EU launches consultation on post-2030 renewable energy roadmap; biomethane must scale to deliver a 90% cut in emissions by 2040

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on its post-2030 renewable energy roadmap, which will be used to help formulate the upcoming fourth Renewable Energy Directive (RED IV).

The consultation seeks to collect evidence, information, data and feedback on how renewable energy sources can be promoted post-2030, as the bloc chases a 90% greenhouse gas emissions reduction target by 2040.

The third EU Renewable Energy Directive, which established targets out to 2030, was adopted in 2023, although many countries have yet to fully implement it into national law.

The transport plank of RED III mandated either a 14.5% cut in GHG intensity or a 29% share of renewables in final energy consumption by 2030. The separate energy targets mandated a 42.5% to 45% share of renewables in the energy mix by 2030.

The consultation’s call for evidence is set to run to 12 June, ahead of a scheduled adoption in the fourth quarter.

Earlier this month, the EU adopted legislation that binds member states to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040 compared with 1990 levels.

When it originally proposed the 2040 target, the Commission said significant investment would be needed in the energy system to replace fossil fuels with renewable and low-carbon alternatives in the transport sector.

Biomethane demand will need to scale well beyond the annual 35 billion cubic metres targeted for 2030 under RePowerEU as fossil gas use must fall much faster in the decade between 2030-2040.