Cyprus must raise the contribution of renewable energy accounts to total energy consumption to 13% by 2020 as part of an EU drive for clean energy.
Statistics published on the European Parliament’s website show that in 2016, renewable energy accounted for only 9.3% of the country’s total energy consumption, below the EU average of 17%.
The shift to renewable energy is part of the clean energy package, approved by the European Parliament which amended the EU’s renewable energy directive, to include a new binding 32% green energy target for 2030 as well as set new principles on future financial support to renewable energy sources and boost people’s right to produce their own renewable energy.
Spanish S&D member José Blanco López, who is responsible for steering the plans through Parliament, said: “We have substantially improved the initial proposal and we finally managed to reach a compromise on a binding target of 32% of renewables in the energy mix for 2030.”
The update is needed as the EU is committed to boosting renewable energy. Under present rules 20% of the EU’s energy consumption must come from renewable sources such as the sun or wind by 2020. In 2014 EU countries agreed this should increase to 27% by 2030.
Improving the energy efficiency of buildings, which would cut heating bills as well as greenhouse gas emissions, is part of the initiative.
From January 1, 2021 all new buildings in the EU should use little or no energy for heating, cooling or hot water. The EU rules concerning this obligation also introduce an energy certification for buildings so that owners or tenants can compare and assess the energy performance.
During the plenary session in April 2018, MEPs voted in favour of proposals to update these rules. The main changes to the Energy Performance of Buildings directive are:
- * EU countries will have to prepare national long-term strategies to support the renovation of buildings. The aim is that by 2050 buildings in the EU hardly use any energy.
- * The use of smart technologies will need to be encouraged to reduce energy consumption.
- * New buildings will be required to have recharging points for electric cars in parking spaces
Danish EPP member Bendt Bendtsen, who was responsible for steering the updated rules through Parliament, said: “We have now given member states the tool box with which to make their apartments and housing more energy efficient for the future.”
EU measures to promote cleaner energy also target renewables and the energy efficiency of electric devices.
