Europe - Renewable energy goals not met by five European countries

The European Commission said on Thursday that five countries were failing to meet goals for renewable energy but that they could make up their quotas by buying electricity from North Africa and the Balkans. That could provide a boost for renewable energy in countries like Tunisia involving companies like Terna and Steg. It also could help the Desertec project, which envisages construction of large solar farms in North Africa, and for hydropower projects in countries like Montenegro and Albania. The five laggards — Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium, Denmark and Malta — could also buy renewable power from other European Union members like Germany, which is on track to beat its quota.

European Union governments agreed at the end of 2008 to require member states to reach an overall goal to generate 20 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. The commission, which is the European Union’s executive agency, said preliminary reports showed that the bloc could generate as much as 20.3 percent of its power from renewable sources by 2020 because countries including Germany, Spain and Sweden could outperform their targets. Member countries must formally present plans outlining how they will meet their quotas in June.

Denmark, which is often cited as a leader in renewable energy because of its recent history of generous subsidies to the wind industry, said in its preliminary report to the commission that it was still formulating a plan, possibly to import electricity, to meet its 2020 goal. The commission is empowered to take countries to court of they fail to meet their objectives.

For more information please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net