Energy Community adopts Clean Energy Package
The 2021 Ministerial Council adopted five key legislative acts stemming from the EU’s Clean energy for all Europeans package. Renewables, energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction targets for 2030 will be adopted at the next Ministerial Council in 2022, following the finalization of a study by the European Commission.
The new Renewables Directive 2018/2001 introduces new rules on support schemes, which shall be granted in an open, transparent, competitive, non-discriminatory and cost effective manner, and measures to tackle administrative barriers. It strengthens the existing sustainability criteria for biofuels and bioliquids, including an indicative target for increasing the use of renewables in heating and cooling sector. It empowers consumers, introducing the concept of renewable self-consumption and energy communities.
Amending Directive 2012/27/EU, the new acquis on energy efficiency sets stronger measures for buildings renovation and savings in end-use sectors. It also introduces rules on metering and billing of thermal energy, especially with respect to multi-apartment and multi-purpose buildings. Contracting Parties will be required to renovate each year at least 3% of the total floor area of buildings over 250 m2 owned and occupied by the central government. Under the energy savings obligation, Contracting Parties will be required to achieve new annual energy savings of at least 0.8% in end-use sectors such as buildings, industry and transport.
The Governance Regulation 2018/1999 sets common rules for planning, reporting and monitoring on energy and climate policies and targets. In particular, the Contracting Parties will be required to submit National Energy and Climate Plans.
The implementation of Electricity Directive 2019/944 and Risk Preparedness Regulation puts in place a new flexible and market-based electricity market design to facilitate the integration of a greater share of renewables. It will also offer opportunities for consumers to participate in the market through generating electricity for either their own consumption, storing it, sharing it, consuming it or to selling it back to the market.
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