Increasing the renewable energy share to at least 20% by 2020 in the EU overall energy consumption is an important precondition for a more sustainable and competitive Europe. Reaching this goal relies on the commitment of Member States to fully implement the requirements of the EU legislation.

The Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) had to be implemented by Member States by 5 December 2010. The timely transposition of EU legislation is a priority for the Commission, especially since unnecessary delays in implementing may jeopardize the achievement of the EU renewable energy objective. However, Finland, Greece, and Poland have not yet informed the Commission of the full transposition of the Directive into their national legislation.

Therefore, the Commission has today decided to send Reasoned Opinions to these Member States. If the Member States do not comply with their legal obligation within two months, the Commission may decide to refer them to the Court of Justice.

Background

The EU has committed itself to reach a 20% share of renewable energy in final energy consumption and a 10% share of renewable energy in transport.The regulatory framework laid down by the Renewable Energy Directive is a key element for reaching these objectives.

According to the Directive, every Member State has to reach individual targets for the overall share of renewable energy in energy consumption. For reaching these targets, Member States have to lay down rules, for example for improving the grid access for electricity from renewable energy and the administrative and planning procedures. The Directive also requires that provisions on guarantees of origin and information and training are in place. In addition, where biofuels are used to achieve the transport target, these must meet a set of sustainability requirements.

Further information

The Renewable Energy Directive can be consulted here.

Commission web page on renewable energy:

http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/index_en.htm

Current figures on infringements in general can be found at:

http://ec.europa.eu/eu_law/infringements/infringements_en.htm

For more information on EU infringement procedures, see MEMO/12/200

Source: European Commission

More than a third of European SMEs now have at least one full or part-time green employee, according to the latest Eurobarometer survey on "SMEs, resource efficiency and green markets". The new report revealed green jobs are largely created in SMEs as opposed to large firms. In 2012, 1 in 8 employees of small and medium-sized firms had a green job or almost 13% of all SME jobs - in large firms it was only 1 in 33 equivalent to 3% of all large company jobs.

Green jobs in SMEs are also estimated to expand dynamically with a rate of 35% in the next 2 years.

The Eurobarometer survey also reveals other sources of untapped potential which could be used by SMEs. For example, less than a quarter of SMEs take advantage of the single market for green products or services.

Bureaucracy is considered as one of the obstacles: 20% of SMEs says that it would be easier to do green investments if cross-border administrative and legal procedures were not so complex.

SMEs in green industries are also maturing. Three in five (61%) SMEs selling green products or services have been active in green markets for more than three years compared to 52% in the US. Food and beverages (25%) and electronic and mechanical machinery and equipment (23%) are the most commonly sold green products and services by SMEs in the EU.

European Commission Vice-President Antonio Tajani, responsible for Industry and Entrepreneurship unveiling today the Eurobarometer results said: "I am happy to see that SMEs are taking on this huge untapped potential which will pay off with more innovation, more competitive SMEs and more jobs.

“However, there is still a lot of work to do. Only very few European SMEs extend their green business to foreign markets. Knowing that the EU makes up roughly one third of the world market for environmental industries this reveals a huge potential for SMEs to grow."

Green markets for SMEs in the EU remain mainly domestic. 87% of SMEs involved in green business (or the green economy) operate in their national markets. Just below a quarter of SMEs report that they exploit the opportunities of the Single Market.

With BRIC countries estimated to account for about 60% of world GDP by 2030, only 3% of SMEs in the EU adventure themselves to sell their green products or services in Asia and the South Pacific and a mere 2% in Latin America.

According to the Eurobarometer survey, the main reason for SMEs in the EU to sell green products or services is demand from customers (48%). Companies’ core values (32%) and image (30%) also play a role in this respect.

93% of EU SMEs take actions to be more resource efficienct. 64% of SMEs save energy, 61% recycle and 62% minimise their waste. 33% of SMEs improve resource efficiency as a top priority.

Financial incentives are considered by SMEs as the best means to help them become greener in the way they operate and the products and services they offer.

Other key findings of the report include:

* Approximately half (51%) of SMEs consider tax rebates, grants and loans as the best policy measures to support energy efficiency investments.

* Approximately half (49%) of the SMEs that are already offering green products indicate that financial incentives for developing products would be the best way to help the expansion of their range of green products or services.

* 31% of the SMEs that are currently not offering green products and services believe that financial incentives would be the best way to help them launch a range of green products or services.

Technical advice and administrative simplification are also considered to be very effective in helping SMEs to be greener.

In the next two years, four SMEs in five (80%) plan to implement resource efficiency actions but one in five SMEs says that it would be easier if administrative and legal procedures were not so complex or the costs of taking actions would be lower.

* One in four (25%) SMEs say that simplifying administrative procedures for constructing cogeneration capacity such as installing solar panels would be particularly effective to boost energy efficiency.

* More information on energy service contracts and options to save energy would also help one in four (24%) SMEs to reduce their energy bill.

* Around one in five SMEs currently who do not offer green products and services say some assistance in identifying potential markets or customers for green products or services could make consider entering green markets.

Green public procurement as a driver for a more sustainable economy is still a challenge for SMEs. According to available data, only 11% of SMEs in the EU have bid for a public procurement tender that included environmental requirements compared with 16% of large companies.

Source: Click Green

A major report by Scottish Renewables has revealed more than 11,000 jobs have been created and maintained by the renewable energy industry in Scotland. The study ‘Delivering the Ambition: employment in renewable energy in Scotland’, which will be launched at today's Scottish Renewables Annual Conference in Edinburgh, is the first comprehensive assessment of full-time equivalent posts in Scotland to date.

Having surveyed more than 200 companies working across a variety of renewable technologies including wind, wave and tidal, bioenergy, solar and hydropower the results show 1,526 employees in renewable energy development (this includes utilities, project and technology developers), and a further 8,701 employed in the direct supplychain. In addition, there are 909 jobs in academia and the wider public sector.

Niall Stuart, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, said: “The report shows that renewables are not only a major part of our energy mix, they are now a major part of our economy and our daily working day lives, supporting more than 11,000 jobs across Scotland.

“The report also highlights that for every job in renewable energy development, there are around six more in the direct supply chain.

“These numbers are actually just the tip of the iceberg, with many thousands more employees supported indirectly by the growth of the renewables sector which have not been captured by this study.”

Mr Stuart added: “Renewable energy development is bringing in much-needed investment to the wider economy, which is providing opportunities for businesses and people from a wide range of sectors; whether it be electricians, tradesmen, and skippers of work boats, or lawyers, consultants, civil engineers and architects.

“These jobs are spread throughout the country, in both urban and rural areas: Glasgow, Fife and Edinburgh are already established as important centres for offshore wind development; Aberdeen is a major centre for offshore engineering; the Highlands and Islands are leading the development of the emerging wave and tidal sector; and bioenergy is providing jobs across rural Scotland from Lochaber to Morayshire to Dumfries and Galloway.”

The report also states that with more than 20 gigawatts (GW) of projects in development in Scotland, the sector has the potential to grow quickly over coming years, creating even more opportunities for employment across the country, and making a major contribution to tackling youth unemployment.

Mr Stuart stressed: “A clear pattern emerges from speaking to employers that these numbers are expected to grow over the year ahead and beyond, as this relatively new industry continues to expand. Gamesa’s decision last week to come to Leith reinforces the scale of the opportunity.

“As a growth sector, it also offers new opportunities for the existing workforce and business base in parts of the economy which have been hit by the downturn.”

However, Mr Stuart warned that none of this can be taken for granted with political support for the industry key to its continued success: “With continued political support, the right market framework, the right balance in the planning system, and investment in grid and ports and harbour infrastructure, we will ensure the creation of many thousands more jobs in this exciting new sector.”

WWF Scotland's director Dr Richard Dixon commented: "Renewables is a young industry with a great future in Scotland. These are the first figures which confirm the growing strength of the industr.

Source: Click Green