A number of EU countries are unlikely to meet their 2020 renewable energy targets, according to the Keep on Track! project.
Keep on Track! is funded by the European Renewable Energy Council (EREC) and has published research showing that a number of countries are likely to miss their targets.
Of the 11 states it looked at, Austria, Italy and Sweden look likely to meet their targets, while it has serious doubts as to whether Bulgaria, Germany, Greece and Portugal will be able to meet theirs.
The UK, Belgium, Poland and Spain are expected to miss their targets.
EREC president Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes said: “It’s plain sailing for the 21 member states who have already achieved their 2012 targets in 2011. However, there are worrying signs on the horizon as current growth rates are insufficient to meet the 2020 targets. EU members states should create and implement predictable and stable legislative frameworks for renewable energy sources.”
Renewable Energy Association chief executive Gaynor Hartnell also pointed out that DECC’s latest renewable energy report gives a provisional share of 4.1 per cent in 2012 for renewable energy.
She added: “The UK has the most demanding target of all member states except Malta, and much progress has been made from a low starting point. While we appear to have narrowly missed the interim target, prospects for getting on track to meet 15 per cent in 2020 seem remote.
“The effect of a steep drop in lending decisions taken in recent years will manifest itself, there will inevitably be a hiatus with the closure of the Renewables Obligation and the Government seems to have gone lukewarm on renewable heat. The earlier than anticipated publication of strike prices is welcome, but more work needs to be done to build investor confidence.”
