European Commission Scraps Renewable Energy Targets

The European Commission today unveiled a new climate change package, which removes the obligation on member states to reach specific renewable energy targets by 2030.

While current EU legislation legislates for a 20 per cent binding renewable target across the EU by 2020, with specific targets for member states, the new package withdraws obligatory targets on how much energy countries should derive from renewable sources. Instead, a binding renewable target of 27 per cent has been proposed for the EU as a whole, but no specific targets for member states. The target for a reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030 has been set at 40 per cent.

Malta: 50% of roof spaces to be allocated for solar energy

The government is set to await until election year to impose strict targets requiring new developments to cater for renewable energy on their roof space.

Malta’s second national Energy Efficiency Action Plan stipulates that by 2013 developers will have to leave 50% of the roof area of any new building unencumbered for the installation of Renewable Energy Sources buildings.