The European Union’s ability to meet its 2020 and 2030 renewable energy targets is at risk, the European Environment Agency (EEA) warned in its annual report on November 26.
According to the EEA, rising energy consumption, particularly in transport, is to blame for the slowdown. The agency’s preliminary data show that renewable energy, such as wind and solar, accounted for a 17.4% share of gross final energy consumption in the EU last year. It was 17.0% in 2016.
As reported by the Reuters news agency, this indicates that the EU remains on track to reach its target of a renewables share of 20% by 2020, although the report said the pace of growth had slowed.
The agency said there was insufficient progress towards a 10% target for renewables use in transport by 2020.
“With 2020 approaching, the trajectories needed to meet the national targets are becoming steeper. Increased energy consumption and persisting market barriers are hindering the uptake of renewables in several member states,” the report said.
