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Renewable Energy Directive (RED)

Summary

Setting a new 2030 target for the EU’s renewable energy share

As part of the Fit for 55 package to reach its ambitious Green Deal goals, the EU must develop an integrated energy system with significantly higher shares of renewable energy sources. 

Following its adoption by the Council on 9 October 2023, the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) has been published in the EU Official Journal on 31 October 2023 and entered into force on 20 November 2023.

How does the RED impact the transport sector ?

Member states will have the possibility to choose between: 

  • a binding target of 14.5% reduction of greenhouse gas intensity in transport from the use of renewables by 2030 or 
  • a binding share of at least 29% of renewables within the final consumption of energy in the transport sector by 2030

An additional combined sub-target of 5.5% by 2030 was set for advanced biofuels (generally derived from non-food-based feedstocks) and renewable fuels of non-biological origin (mostly renewable hydrogen and hydrogen-based synthetic fuels) in the share of renewable energies supplied to the transport sector. Within this target, there is a minimum requirement of 1% of renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs).

The share of biofuels and biogas for transport produced from the feedstock listed in Annex IX and RFNBOs will now have to be considered as twice its energy content.

The Commission will be empowered to adopt delegated acts adjusting the limit envisaged for the share of biofuels and biogas produced from the feedstock listed in Part B of Annex IX, in accordance with an assessment of feedstock availability.

How will the RED impact shipping?

To kick start the fuel shift in maritime transport, Member States with maritime ports should endeavour to ensure that from 2030 the share of renewable fuels of non-biological origin in the total amount of energy supplied to the maritime transport sector is at least 1,2 %.

Furthermore, the amount of energy supplied to maritime transport will be limited to 13% of the Member State’s gross final energy consumption for the calculation of both the GHG intensity reduction and the renewable energy share in transport.

What's next for RED implementation?                 

After its entry into force on 20 November 2023 (20 days after its publication in the EU’s Official Journal), Member States will have 18 months to transpose it into national legislation.

How can I keep up to date with RED news?

While RED will only have an indirect impact on ship owners and operators, its will nevertheless contribute to the future maritime sector in Europe. 

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