Overview of the legal framework of the Green Deal

Renewable Energy Directive (RED III)

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Renewable Energy Directive (RED III)

The Renewable Energy Directive aims to increase the expansion targets for renewable energy, define sector-specific sub-targets and speed up authorisation procedures. The current directive sets the Union target of achieving a 32% share of energy from renewable sources in the Union's total energy consumption by 2030.

Renewable energy sources are forms of energy which, in contrast to fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), are renewed relatively quickly or are practically inexhaustible.

These include:

  • Solar energy (photovoltaics, solar thermal energy)
  • Hydroelectric power
  • Wind energy
  • Geothermal and ambient heat
  • Bioenergy (solid biomass such as wood, biogas and liquid biomass such as biodiesel as well as the biogenic portion of waste)
  • Marine energy

Objectives:

Increase the proportion of renewable energies Promoting energy efficiency

Renewable sources of energy


Solar energy, hydropower, wind power

Geothermal and ambient heat

Bioenergy
Realisation plan:
Until 21 May 2025
Member states must implement most of the requirements of the directive.
By 2030
The share of renewable energies in the EU must be increased to at least 42.5% of (gross) final energy consumption.
Until 21 May 2025
Member States must assess the areas required for renewable energy production facilities and the associated infrastructure.
Until 21 February 2026
Member States must ensure that the competent authorities designate a sufficient number of particularly suitable areas for the expansion of renewable energies with plans.
Which areas are affected?

  • Transport
The provisional agreement stipulates as a binding sub-target that the share of renewable energy sources provided for the transport sector must be 5.5% advanced biofuels (generally from non-food feedstocks) and renewable fuels of non-biogenic origin (mostly renewable hydrogen and hydrogen-based synthetic fuels). As part of this target, the requirement applies that the share of renewable energy sources provided for the transport sector in 2030 must be at least 1 % renewable fuels of non-biogenic origin.


  • Industry
The provisional agreement stipulates that the industry should increase the use of renewable energy by 1.6% annually. It was agreed that 42% of the hydrogen used by the industry should come from renewable fuels of non-biogenic origin by 2030 and 60% by 2035.


  • Buildings, heating and cooling supply
The provisional agreement sets an indicative target of at least 49% for the share of renewable energy sources in buildings by 2030.
It is also planned to gradually increase the targets for renewable energy sources in the heating and cooling supply at national level - by 0.8% per year until 2026 and by 1.1% per year from 2026 to 2030. The average annual minimum rate applicable to all member states will be supplemented by additional indicative increases calculated individually for each member state.


  • Bioenergy
The provisional agreement provides for stricter sustainability criteria for biomass in order to counter the risk of unsustainable bioenergy production. It ensures that the principle of the cascade of utilisation is applied, with a focus on support schemes and appropriate consideration of national characteristics.


  • Faster project authorisation procedures
The provisional agreement provides for accelerated authorisation procedures for renewable energy projects. In this way, the use of renewable energy sources is to be promoted as part of the REPowerEU plan - for independence from Russian fossil fuels in view of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Further information:

[EUR-Lex] Renewable Energy Directive