What percentage of the EU's renewables targets will be derived from Joint Projects?

After heated debates on the final agreement between the European Parliament and the Council on 9 December 2008 and within the European Council on 11 December 2008, the European Parliament, on 17 December 2008, has adopted by a large majority (685 against 25) the Renewables Directive. This important piece of legislation provides necessary tools to increase the use of renewables within the energy system. The so-called 20-20-20 EU policy by 2020 contains:

• 20% increase in energy efficiency
• 20% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
• 20% share of renewables in overall EU energy consumption by 2020

These targets are very ambitious: in 2005 8.5% of energy in the EU is renewable. To be able to meet these challenging targets, the Commission has introduced a few new Cooperation Mechanisms in the new RES directive:

• Statistical Transfers: MSs may agree on and may make arrangements for the Statistical Transfer of a specified amount of energy from renewable sources form one MS to another (re: Art. 6 of the Directive)
• Joint Projects: two or more MSs may cooperate on all types of joint projects relating to the production of electricity, heating or cooling from RES. That cooperation may involve private operators (re: Art. 7 and 8)
• Joint Projects between MSs and third countries: one or more MSs may cooperate with one or more third countries on all types of joint projects regarding the production of electricity from RES. That cooperation may involve private operators (re: Art. 9 and 10).

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