Periodic Reporting for period 2 - CA-RES4 (CONCERTED ACTION SUPPORTING THE TRANSPOSITION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF DIRECTIVE 2018/2001/EC ON THE PROMOTION OF THE USE OF ENERGY FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES (RECAST))
Reporting period: 2022-12-01 to 2024-05-31
The Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (recast) (also referred to as RED II) entered into force on 24 December 2018 and must be transposed by all Member States by 30 June 2021. The effort required to fully implement the Directive (EU) 2018/2001 in Member States is significant as they face a number of challenges. The Concerted Action supports the implementation of the Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (CA-RES4). In particular, the Concerted Action facilitates sharing experiences and good practice of implementation, finding common approaches as well as cross-learning and cooperation. The work carried out within the CA-RES4 is designed to meet the needs of RES Directive (EU) 2018/2001 implementing organisations. The action will provide added value compared with measures taken by each MS acting on its own.
The Concerted Action will help make knowledge available to all participants through access to a network of national experts engaged in the implementation of the Directive. The CA-RES4 will do this through a structured framework that will facilitate the exchange of information and experience through a series of meetings and other communication tools. It will provide participants with an opportunity to learn from others implementation process and policy approaches and build national policy capacity, but also to explore opportunities for bilateral or multilateral cooperation and identify areas for possible future convergence and harmonised approaches amongst participating countries. The CA-RES4 builds upon the success and structures of the previous phases of the Concerted Action (CA-RES I, CA-RES II, and CA-RES3). The CA-RES community has developed during the course of the previous phases into a unique network of experts and will continue to be strengthened through the CA-RES4. The objective is to provide participating countries with the most pertinent information that may lead them on to the most efficient path towards an effective implementation of the renewable energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001. The expected impact of the Action consists of a more harmonized approach and improved implementation of the Directive (EU) 2018/2001 in participating countries, a strengthened network of experts as well as the transfer of good practices between countries.
The main objectives of the Concerted Action on the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001 are as follows:
• Facilitate a structured exchange of information, experience and good practice regarding the implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001 between participating countries,
• Encourage dialogue between participating countries to develop common approaches for the implementation of particular (more complex) parts of the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001,
• Support the effective implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001 in participating countries, and
• Complement the work of the Committees assisting the European Commission (Energy Union Committee and Committee on the Sustainability of Biofuels, Bioliquids and Biomass fuels)
The CA-RES4 contributes to these objectives by organising seven structured Plenary Meetings to cover the relevant topics and facilitating dialogue among participants between Plenary Meetings. The aim of these meetings and dialogue is to facilitate information exchange between CA-RES4 participants and to achieve as much convergence of objectives and methodologies as appropriate, and maximize the benefits of joint work. This information exchange gives the CA-RES4 participants better insight into the various possible approaches, the activities in other countries and possibilities for collaboration. This benefits participating countries in their implementation of the legislation.
The Concerted Action will help make knowledge available to all participants through access to a network of national experts engaged in the implementation of the Directive. The CA-RES4 will do this through a structured framework that will facilitate the exchange of information and experience through a series of meetings and other communication tools. It will provide participants with an opportunity to learn from others implementation process and policy approaches and build national policy capacity, but also to explore opportunities for bilateral or multilateral cooperation and identify areas for possible future convergence and harmonised approaches amongst participating countries. The CA-RES4 builds upon the success and structures of the previous phases of the Concerted Action (CA-RES I, CA-RES II, and CA-RES3). The CA-RES community has developed during the course of the previous phases into a unique network of experts and will continue to be strengthened through the CA-RES4. The objective is to provide participating countries with the most pertinent information that may lead them on to the most efficient path towards an effective implementation of the renewable energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001. The expected impact of the Action consists of a more harmonized approach and improved implementation of the Directive (EU) 2018/2001 in participating countries, a strengthened network of experts as well as the transfer of good practices between countries.
The main objectives of the Concerted Action on the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001 are as follows:
• Facilitate a structured exchange of information, experience and good practice regarding the implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001 between participating countries,
• Encourage dialogue between participating countries to develop common approaches for the implementation of particular (more complex) parts of the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001,
• Support the effective implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001 in participating countries, and
• Complement the work of the Committees assisting the European Commission (Energy Union Committee and Committee on the Sustainability of Biofuels, Bioliquids and Biomass fuels)
The CA-RES4 contributes to these objectives by organising seven structured Plenary Meetings to cover the relevant topics and facilitating dialogue among participants between Plenary Meetings. The aim of these meetings and dialogue is to facilitate information exchange between CA-RES4 participants and to achieve as much convergence of objectives and methodologies as appropriate, and maximize the benefits of joint work. This information exchange gives the CA-RES4 participants better insight into the various possible approaches, the activities in other countries and possibilities for collaboration. This benefits participating countries in their implementation of the legislation.
The project started on 26 May 2021. A Session on the transposition of the RES directive 2018/2001 was held on 1 June 2021. In the session a number of questions from Member States were clarified by DG ENER policy officials. The core of the work within the CA-RES4 during the 1st reporting period was organized around a series of three two-day Plenary Meetings. Due to the outbreak of the COVID -19 pandemic and the not foreseeable travel restrictions; the first Plenary Meeting (17-18 November 2021) and the second Plenary Meeting (18-19 May 2022) were held as virtual meetings. The third Plenary Meeting was held physically (hybrid) on 9th - 10th November 2022. Plenary Meetings enabled a structured sharing of information and experience, encouraged dialogue between the participating countries, and facilitated cross-learning through the presentation of country examples and discussions with participants, invited speakers and Commission representatives.
Within the CA-RES4, two non-permanent Task Forces were established in the framework of CT4 and CT5:
• Task Force 1: Task force on supervision of sustainability schemes for biomass
This task force focusses on the discussion of the different options for coordination of supervision of Sustainability Certification to demonstrate compliance with the sustainability criteria set out in the RED II for biomass used for energy purposes, as required by the implementing regulation.
• Task force 2: Task force on grid injected biomethane, accounting rules, mass balance, and international trade
• Task force 3: Hydrogen as an intermediate. The objective of this task force under Core Theme 5 is to analyse the use of RFNBOs as intermediate under article 25 of the Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001. The task force will collect an inventory of questions to the European Commission and an inventory of the guidance requested from the European Commission.
Within the CA-RES4, two non-permanent Task Forces were established in the framework of CT4 and CT5:
• Task Force 1: Task force on supervision of sustainability schemes for biomass
This task force focusses on the discussion of the different options for coordination of supervision of Sustainability Certification to demonstrate compliance with the sustainability criteria set out in the RED II for biomass used for energy purposes, as required by the implementing regulation.
• Task force 2: Task force on grid injected biomethane, accounting rules, mass balance, and international trade
• Task force 3: Hydrogen as an intermediate. The objective of this task force under Core Theme 5 is to analyse the use of RFNBOs as intermediate under article 25 of the Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001. The task force will collect an inventory of questions to the European Commission and an inventory of the guidance requested from the European Commission.
The following results – in line with the objectives - are expected to be achieved:
• Consolidation and strengthening of the network of experts and the information-sharing framework.
• Participating countries will learn from each other and benefit from best-practice examples and shared experience in key areas: renewable electricity, decarbonisation of heating & cooling, decarbonisation of transport, biomass mobilisation and sustainability, consumer/citizen´s engagement and governance, target achievement and cooperation.
• Coordinated implementation and common approaches will be sought in specific areas of implementation of the Directive where they are beneficial.
• Mutual support on the implementation of the RES Directive (EU) 2018/2001 between participants will be encouraged.
• Participants will identify possible areas for potential future convergence amongst MS.
• An overview of policy instruments and measures for renewable energy, with experiences from MS, so that MS can build on other successful approaches.
• Consolidation and strengthening of the network of experts and the information-sharing framework.
• Participating countries will learn from each other and benefit from best-practice examples and shared experience in key areas: renewable electricity, decarbonisation of heating & cooling, decarbonisation of transport, biomass mobilisation and sustainability, consumer/citizen´s engagement and governance, target achievement and cooperation.
• Coordinated implementation and common approaches will be sought in specific areas of implementation of the Directive where they are beneficial.
• Mutual support on the implementation of the RES Directive (EU) 2018/2001 between participants will be encouraged.
• Participants will identify possible areas for potential future convergence amongst MS.
• An overview of policy instruments and measures for renewable energy, with experiences from MS, so that MS can build on other successful approaches.