Periodic Reporting for period 2 - CA-RES3 (Concerted Action supporting the transposition and implementation of Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (RES Directive))
Reporting period: 2018-04-01 to 2020-12-31
The CA-RES3 is a structured and confidential dialogue between national authorities responsible for the implementation of the Directive 2009/28/EC or their nominated representatives. In the CA-RES3, participating countries exchange experience and best practices, participate in a cross-learning process and develop common approaches. The CA-RES3 was organised around 5 Core Themes in the areas of RES electricity, RES heat, guarantees of origin and disclosure, biomass mobilisation and sustainability and RES in transport.
The main objectives of the Concerted Action on the RES Directive 2009/28/EC (CA-RES3) are as follows:
- Facilitate a structured exchange of information, experience and good practice regarding the implementation of the RES Directive between participating countries, and
- Support the effective implementation of the RES Directive in participating countries.
The Austrian Energy Agency (AEA) coordinated the CA-RES3. Partners and participants were nominated organisations from 27 EU Member States plus Norway and Iceland. The CA-RES3 is a confidential process and is directed solely at the national implementing bodies, as it is designed to contribute to the effective implementation of methodologies and legislation concerning the Directive 2009/28/EC.
The CA-RES3 covered the following Core Themes (CT):
- RES electricity: support schemes (Art. 3), RES integration in electricity systems and markets (Art. 16) and cooperation mechanisms (Art. 3,4, 6-11)
- RES heat: RES heating (Art. 13, 16), RES in buildings (Art. 13), and training (Art. 14), support schemes for heating (Art. 3)
- Guarantees of Origin and disclosure (Art. 15)
- Biomass mobilisation and sustainability (Art. 4, Art. 17(9))
- RES in transport (Art. 17-19)
The main objectives of the Concerted Action on the RES Directive 2009/28/EC (CA-RES3) are as follows:
- Facilitate a structured exchange of information, experience and good practice regarding the implementation of the RES Directive between participating countries, and
- Support the effective implementation of the RES Directive in participating countries.
The Austrian Energy Agency (AEA) coordinated the CA-RES3. Partners and participants were nominated organisations from 27 EU Member States plus Norway and Iceland. The CA-RES3 is a confidential process and is directed solely at the national implementing bodies, as it is designed to contribute to the effective implementation of methodologies and legislation concerning the Directive 2009/28/EC.
The CA-RES3 covered the following Core Themes (CT):
- RES electricity: support schemes (Art. 3), RES integration in electricity systems and markets (Art. 16) and cooperation mechanisms (Art. 3,4, 6-11)
- RES heat: RES heating (Art. 13, 16), RES in buildings (Art. 13), and training (Art. 14), support schemes for heating (Art. 3)
- Guarantees of Origin and disclosure (Art. 15)
- Biomass mobilisation and sustainability (Art. 4, Art. 17(9))
- RES in transport (Art. 17-19)
The core of the work within the Concerted Action is organised around a series of seven two-day plenary meetings. The project has advanced the implementation of the RES directive in Member States. the CA-RES3 organised seven Plenary Meetings and webinar sessions for selected Core Themes that have facilitated the structured exchange of knowhow and experience in the 5 Core Themes on RES Electricity, RES Heat, Guarantees of Origin and Disclosure, Biomass Mobilisation and Sustainability and RES in Transport. These meetings provided a forum for discussions and cross learning between participants. This exchange of approaches and experience focused on key requirements of the RES Directive 2009/28/EC and the recast RES directve 2018/2001, according to the needs of the participating countries and the European Commission. This exchange has given participants a better understanding of policy measures implemented by their peers in other countries in the framework of the implementation of the RES directive, the challenges they face and best-practice examples available, as well as possibilities for collaboration and mutual support. This has contributed to the implementation of the RES directive and the achievement of the national RES targets.
For the European Commission, the CA-RES3 provided an important forum to follow the implementation of the RES Directive by the Member States informally and to identify areas for convergence and EU-wide action on the implementation.
Within the CA-RES3, 5 Task Forces were established in the framework of several CT if a certain topic requires more in-depth analysis.
A CA-RES/CA-EED/CA-EPBD Joint Workshop titled ‘Achieving 2030 targets through synergies between energy efficiency and renewable energy’ took place in Barcelona from 30th – 31th of January 2020 with 200 experts from the three Concerted Actions, DG ENERGY, Joint Research Centre, EUROSTAT, EASME and the European Defence Agency. During the course of the Joint Workshop, policy makers and implementers gathered to discuss issues related to the implementation of the three Directives in Member States, Norway, Iceland and the UK. This was the first Joint Concerted Action Workshop, of this scale, to include experts working on three different policy areas: energy performance of buildings; renewable energy sources; and energy efficiency. By bringing together policy makers and implementers from these three groups, the workshop aimed to increase understanding of the different policy areas and help delegates identify the potential synergies in how the three Directives can be implemented. It also contributed to the better understanding of the topics across the different policy areas and laid the foundation for similar events in the future.
For the European Commission, the CA-RES3 provided an important forum to follow the implementation of the RES Directive by the Member States informally and to identify areas for convergence and EU-wide action on the implementation.
Within the CA-RES3, 5 Task Forces were established in the framework of several CT if a certain topic requires more in-depth analysis.
A CA-RES/CA-EED/CA-EPBD Joint Workshop titled ‘Achieving 2030 targets through synergies between energy efficiency and renewable energy’ took place in Barcelona from 30th – 31th of January 2020 with 200 experts from the three Concerted Actions, DG ENERGY, Joint Research Centre, EUROSTAT, EASME and the European Defence Agency. During the course of the Joint Workshop, policy makers and implementers gathered to discuss issues related to the implementation of the three Directives in Member States, Norway, Iceland and the UK. This was the first Joint Concerted Action Workshop, of this scale, to include experts working on three different policy areas: energy performance of buildings; renewable energy sources; and energy efficiency. By bringing together policy makers and implementers from these three groups, the workshop aimed to increase understanding of the different policy areas and help delegates identify the potential synergies in how the three Directives can be implemented. It also contributed to the better understanding of the topics across the different policy areas and laid the foundation for similar events in the future.
The Concerted Action has proven a valuable platform for the implementation of the renewable energy directive. The structured dialogue and cooperation was realized through a series of seven CA-RES3 meetings and webinars focusing on key requirements of the RES Directive. The topics considered in these Core Themes were driven by the needs, interests and priorities of the participating Member States and the Commission.
The following results were achieved:
- The CA-RES provided support to an effective implementation of the RES Directive in the participating countries. It also discussed delegated and implementation acts for the RED II and experience with the Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy
- Linkages to other relevant pieces of legislation such as the Energy Efficiency Directive, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, Fuel Quality Directive, the electricity regulation and internal electrcity market directive and the governance regulation were discussed
- Relevant EU financial instruments sich as the Renewable Financing mechanism and Connecting Europe Facility grants to support cross-border RES projects were presented to Member States
- Implicatons of the EU strategy for energy systems integration and the hydrogen strategy for renewables were presented and discussed
- The framework of best practice and information exchange was consolidated and improved.
- the network of experts was expanded.
- Common approaches in specific areas of implementation of the RES Directive such as biofuels and guarantees of origin were pursued.
- Cross learning between participants was facilitated
The following results were achieved:
- The CA-RES provided support to an effective implementation of the RES Directive in the participating countries. It also discussed delegated and implementation acts for the RED II and experience with the Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy
- Linkages to other relevant pieces of legislation such as the Energy Efficiency Directive, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, Fuel Quality Directive, the electricity regulation and internal electrcity market directive and the governance regulation were discussed
- Relevant EU financial instruments sich as the Renewable Financing mechanism and Connecting Europe Facility grants to support cross-border RES projects were presented to Member States
- Implicatons of the EU strategy for energy systems integration and the hydrogen strategy for renewables were presented and discussed
- The framework of best practice and information exchange was consolidated and improved.
- the network of experts was expanded.
- Common approaches in specific areas of implementation of the RES Directive such as biofuels and guarantees of origin were pursued.
- Cross learning between participants was facilitated