Directive (EU) 2023/2413 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 October 2023 amending Directive (EU) 2018/2001, Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and Directive 98/70/EC as regards the promotion of energy from renewable sources, and repealing Council Directive (EU) 2015/652

‘1 Member States shall collectively ensure that the share of energy from renewable sources in the Union’s gross final consumption of energy in 2030 is at least 42,5 %. Member States shall collectively endeavour to increase the share of energy from renewable sources in the Union’s gross final consumption of energy in 2030 to 45 %. Member States shall set an indicative target for innovative renewable energy technology of at least 5 % of newly installed renewable energy capacity by 2030.’

‘3 Member States shall take measures to ensure that energy from biomass is produced in a way that minimises undue distortive effects on the biomass raw material market and an adverse impact on biodiversity, the environment and the climate. To that end, they shall take into account the waste hierarchy set out in Article 4 of Directive 2008/98/EC and shall ensure the application of the principle of the cascading use of biomass, with a focus on support schemes and with due regard to national specificities. Member States shall design support schemes for energy from biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels in such a way as to avoid incentivising unsustainable pathways and distorting competition with the material sectors, with a view to ensuring that woody biomass is used according to its highest economic and environmental added value in the following order of priorities: (a) wood-based products; (b) extending the service life of wood-based products; (c) re-use; (d) recycling; (e) bioenergy; and (f) disposal.

3a Member States may derogate from the principle of the cascading use of biomass referred to in paragraph 3 where needed to ensure security of energy supply. Member States may also derogate from that principle where the local industry is quantitatively or technically unable to use forest biomass for an economic and environmental added value that is higher than energy production, for feedstocks coming from: (a) necessary forest management activities, aiming to ensure pre-commercial thinning operations or carried out in accordance with national law on wildfire prevention in high-risk areas; (b) salvage logging following documented natural disturbances; or (c) the harvest of certain woods whose characteristics are not suitable for local processing facilities.

3b Member States shall, no more than once a year, notify the Commission of a summary of the derogations from the principle of the cascading use of biomass pursuant to paragraph 3a, together with the reasons for such derogations and the geographical scale to which they apply. The Commission shall make public the notifications received, and may issue a public opinion with regard to any of them.

3c Member States shall not grant direct financial support for: (a) the use of saw logs, veneer logs, industrial grade roundwood, stumps and roots to produce energy; (b) the production of renewable energy from the incineration of waste, unless the separate collection obligations laid down in Directive 2008/98/EC have been complied with.

3d Without prejudice to paragraph 3, Member States shall not grant new support or renew any support for the production of electricity from forest biomass in electricity-only installations, unless such electricity meets at least one of the following conditions: (a) it is produced in a region identified in a territorial just transition plan established in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1056 of the European Parliament and of the Council due to its reliance on solid fossil fuels, and it meets the relevant requirements set out in Article 29(11) of this Directive; (b) it is produced applying biomass CO2 capture and storage and it meets the requirements set out in Article 29(11), second subparagraph; (c) it is produced in an outermost region as referred to in Article 349 TFEU, for a limited period and with the objective of phasing down, to the greatest extent possible, the use of forest biomass without affecting access to safe and secure energy. By 2027, the Commission shall publish a report on the impact of the Member States’ support schemes for biomass, including on biodiversity, on the climate and the environment, and on possible market distortions, and shall assess the possibility for further limitations regarding support schemes for forest biomass.

‘4a Member States shall establish a framework, which may include support schemes and measures facilitating the uptake of renewables power purchase agreements, enabling the deployment of renewable electricity to a level that is consistent with the Member State’s national contribution referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article and at a pace that is consistent with the indicative trajectories referred to in Article 4, point (a)(2), of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. In particular, that framework shall tackle remaining barriers to a high level of renewable electricity supply, including those related to permit-granting procedures, and to the development of the necessary transmission, distribution and storage infrastructure, including co-located energy storage. When designing that framework, Member States shall take into account the additional renewable electricity required to meet demand in the transport, industry, building and heating and cooling sectors and for the production of renewable fuels of non-biological origin. Member States may include a summary of the policies and measures under the framework and an assessment of their implementation, respectively, in their integrated national energy and climate plans submitted pursuant to Articles 3 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and in their integrated national energy and climate progress reports submitted pursuant to Article 17 of that Regulation.’

‘2 For the purposes of paragraph 1, first subparagraph, point (a), gross final consumption of electricity from renewable sources shall be calculated as the quantity of electricity produced in a Member State from renewable sources, including the production of electricity from renewables self-consumers and renewable energy communities and electricity from renewable fuels of non-biological origin and excluding the production of electricity in pumped storage units from water that has previously been pumped uphill as well as the electricity used to produce renewable fuels of non-biological origin.’

‘1a By 31 December 2025, each Member State shall agree to establish a framework for cooperation on joint projects with one or more other Member States for the production of renewable energy, subject to the following: (a) by 31 December 2030, Member States shall endeavour to agree on establishing at least two joint projects; (b) by 31 December 2033, Member States with an annual electricity consumption of more than 100 TWh shall endeavour to agree on establishing a third joint project. The identification of joint offshore renewable energy projects shall be consistent with the needs identified in the high-level strategic integrated offshore network development plans for each sea-basin referred to in Article 14(2) of Regulation (EU) 2022/869 of the European Parliament and of the Council and the Union-wide ten-year network development plan referred to in Article 30(1), point (b), of Regulation (EU) 2019/943, but may go beyond those needs and may involve local and regional authorities and private undertakings. Member States shall work towards a fair distribution of the costs and benefits of joint projects. To that end, Member States shall take into account all the relevant costs and benefits of the joint project in the relevant cooperation agreement. Member States shall notify the Commission of cooperation agreements, including the date on which the joint projects are expected to become operational. Projects financed by national contributions under the Union renewable energy financing mechanism established by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1294 shall be deemed to satisfy the obligations referred to in the first subparagraph for the Member States involved.

‘7a On the basis of the indicative goals for offshore renewable energy generation to be deployed within each sea basin, identified in accordance with Article 14 of Regulation (EU) 2022/869, the Member States concerned shall publish information on the volumes of offshore renewable energy that they plan to achieve through tenders, taking into account technical and economic feasibility for the grid infrastructure and the activities that already take place. Member States shall endeavour to allocate space for offshore renewable energy projects in their maritime spatial plans, taking into account the activities that already take place in the affected areas. In order to facilitate permit-granting for joint offshore renewable energy projects, Member States shall reduce the complexity and increase the efficiency and transparency of the permit-granting procedure, shall enhance cooperation among themselves and shall, where appropriate, establish a single contact point. In order to enhance public acceptance, Member States may include renewable energy communities in joint offshore renewable energy projects.’

‘1 Member States shall ensure that any national rules concerning the authorisation, certification and licensing procedures that are applied to plants and associated transmission and distribution networks for the production of electricity, heating or cooling from renewable sources, to the process of transformation of biomass into biofuels, bioliquids, biomass fuels or other energy products, and to renewable fuels of non-biological origin are proportionate and necessary and contribute to the implementation of the energy efficiency first principle.’

‘2 Member States shall clearly define any technical specifications which are to be met by renewable energy equipment and systems in order to benefit from support schemes and to be eligible under public procurement. Where harmonised standards or European standards exist, including technical reference systems established by the European standardisation organisations, such technical specifications shall be expressed in terms of those standards. Precedence shall be given to harmonised standards, the references of which have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union in support of Union law, including Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Directive 2009/125/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council . In their absence, other harmonised standards and European standards shall be used, in that order. Such technical specifications shall not prescribe where the equipment and systems are to be certified and shall not impede the proper functioning of the internal market.

2a Member States shall promote the testing of innovative renewable energy technology for producing, sharing and storing of renewable energy through pilot projects in a real-world environment, for a limited period, in accordance with the applicable Union law and accompanied by appropriate safeguards to ensure the secure operation of the energy system and avoid disproportionate impact on the functioning of the internal market, under the supervision of a competent authority.

3 Member States shall ensure that their competent authorities at national, regional and local level include provisions for the integration and deployment of renewable energy, including for renewables self-consumption and renewable energy communities, and for the use of unavoidable waste heat and cold when planning, including early spatial planning, designing, building and renovating urban infrastructure, industrial, commercial or residential areas and energy and transport infrastructure, including electricity, district heating and cooling, natural gas and alternative fuel networks. Member States shall, in particular, encourage local and regional administrative bodies to include heating and cooling from renewable sources in the planning of city infrastructure where appropriate, and to consult the network operators to reflect the impact of energy efficiency and demand-response programmes as well as specific provisions on renewables self- consumption and renewable energy communities, on the infrastructure development plans of the network operators.

‘8 Member States shall assess the regulatory and administrative barriers to long-term renewable energy purchase agreements, and shall remove unjustified barriers to, and promote the uptake of, such agreements, including by exploring how to reduce the financial risks associated with them, in particular by using credit guarantees. Member States shall ensure that those agreements are not subject to disproportionate or discriminatory procedures or charges, and that any associated guarantees of origin can be transferred to the buyer of the renewable energy under the renewable energy purchase agreement. Member States shall describe their policies and measures promoting the uptake of renewable energy purchase agreements in their integrated national energy and climate plans submitted pursuant to Articles 3 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and their integrated national energy and climate progress reports submitted pursuant to Article 17 of that Regulation. They shall also provide, in those progress reports, an indication of renewable energy generation that is supported by renewable energy purchase agreements. Following the assessment referred to in the first subparagraph, the Commission shall analyse the barriers to long-term renewable energy purchase agreements and in particular to the deployment of cross-border renewable energy purchase agreements and shall issue guidance on the removal those barriers.

9 By 21 November 2025, the Commission shall consider if additional measures are needed to support Member States in the implementation of the permit-granting procedures provided for in this Directive, including by means of developing indicative key performance indicators.’

1 In order to promote the production and use of renewable energy in the building sector, Member States shall determine an indicative national share of renewable energy produced on-site or nearby as well as renewable energy taken from the grid in final energy consumption in their building sector in 2030 that is consistent with an indicative target of at least a 49 % share of energy from renewable sources in the building sector in the Union’s final energy consumption in buildings in 2030. Member States shall include their indicative national share in the integrated national energy and climate plans submitted pursuant to Articles 3 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 as well as information on how they plan to achieve it.

2 Member States may count waste heat and cold towards the indicative national share referred to in paragraph 1, up to a limit of 20 % of that share. If they decide to do so, the indicative national share shall increase by half of the percentage of waste heat and cold counted towards that share.

3 Member States shall introduce appropriate measures in their national regulations and building codes and, where applicable, in their support schemes, to increase the share of electricity and heating and cooling from renewable sources produced on-site or nearby as well as renewable energy taken from the grid in the building stock. Such measures may include national measures relating to substantial increases in renewables self-consumption, renewable energy communities, local energy storage, smart recharging and bi-directional recharging, other flexibility services such as demand response, and in combination with energy efficiency improvements relating to cogeneration and major renovations which increase the number of nearly zero energy buildings and buildings that go beyond minimum energy performance requirements provided for in Article 4 of Directive 2010/31/EU. In order to achieve the indicative share of renewable energy provided for in paragraph 1, Member States shall, in their national regulations and building codes and, where applicable, in their support schemes or by other means with equivalent effect, require the use of minimum levels of energy from renewable sources produced on-site or nearby as well as renewable energy taken from the grid, in new buildings and in existing buildings that are undergoing major renovation or a renewal of the heating system, in accordance with Directive 2010/31/EU, where that is economically, technically and functionally feasible. Member States shall allow those minimum levels to be fulfilled through, inter alia, efficient district heating and cooling. For existing buildings, the first subparagraph shall apply to the armed forces only to the extent that its application does not cause any conflict with the nature and primary aim of the activities of the armed forces and with the exception of material used exclusively for military purposes.

4 Member States shall ensure that public buildings at national, regional and local level fulfil an exemplary role as regards the share of renewable energy used, in accordance with Article 9 of Directive 2010/31/EU and Article 5 of Directive 2012/27/EU. Member States may allow that obligation to be fulfilled by, inter alia, providing for the roofs of public or mixed private-public buildings to be used by third parties for installations that produce energy from renewable sources.

5 Where deemed to be relevant, Member States may promote cooperation between local authorities and renewable energy communities in the building sector, particularly through the use of public procurement.

6 In order to achieve the indicative share of renewable energy provided for in paragraph 1, Member States shall promote the use of renewable heating and cooling systems and equipment and may promote innovative technology, such as smart and renewable-based electrified heating and cooling systems and equipment, complemented, where applicable, with smart management of energy consumption in buildings. To that end, Member States shall use all appropriate measures, tools and incentives, including, energy labels developed under Regulation (EU) 2017/1369, energy performance certificates established pursuant to Article 11 of Directive 2010/31/EU, and other appropriate certificates or standards developed at Union or national level, and shall ensure the provision of adequate information and advice on renewable, highly energy efficient alternatives as well as on financial instruments and incentives available to promote an increased replacement rate of old heating systems and an increased switch to solutions based on renewable energy.

1 By 21 May 2025, Member States shall carry out a coordinated mapping for the deployment of renewable energy in their territory to identify the domestic potential and the available land surface, sub-surface, sea or inland water areas that are necessary for the installation of renewable energy plants and their related infrastructure, such as grid and storage facilities, including thermal storage, that are required in order to meet at least their national contributions towards the overall Union renewable energy target for 2030 set in Article 3(1) of this Directive. To that end, Member States may use or build upon their existing spatial planning documents or plans, including maritime spatial plans set up pursuant to Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council . Member States shall ensure coordination among all the relevant national, regional and local authorities and entities, including network operators, in the mapping of the necessary areas, where appropriate. Member States shall ensure that such areas, including the existing renewable energy plants and cooperation mechanisms, are commensurate with the estimated trajectories and total planned installed capacity by renewable energy technology set out in their national energy and climate plans submitted pursuant to Articles 3 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.

2 For the purpose of identifying the areas referred to in paragraph 1, Member States shall take into account in particular: (a) the availability of energy from renewable sources and the potential for renewable energy production of the different types of technology in the land surface, sub-surface, sea or inland water areas; (b) the projected demand for energy, taking into account the potential flexibility of the active demand response, expected efficiency gains and energy system integration; (c) the availability of relevant energy infrastructure, including grids, storage and other flexibility tools or the potential to create or upgrade such grid infrastructure and storage.

3 Member States shall favour multiple uses of the areas referred to in paragraph 1. Renewable energy projects shall be compatible with pre-existing uses of those areas.

4 Member States shall periodically review and, where necessary, update the areas referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, in particular in the context of the updates of their national energy and climate plans submitted pursuant to Articles 3 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.

1 By 21 February 2026, Member States shall ensure that competent authorities adopt one or more plans designating, as a sub-set of the areas referred to in Article 15b(1), renewables acceleration areas for one or more types of renewable energy sources. Member States may exclude biomass combustion and hydropower plants. In those plans, competent authorities shall: (a) designate sufficiently homogeneous land, inland water, and sea areas where the deployment of a specific type or specific types of renewable energy sources is not expected to have a significant environmental impact, in view of the particularities of the selected area, while: (i) giving priority to artificial and built surfaces, such as rooftops and facades of buildings, transport infrastructure and their direct surroundings, parking areas, farms, waste sites, industrial sites, mines, artificial inland water bodies, lakes or reservoirs and, where appropriate, urban waste water treatment sites, as well as degraded land not usable for agriculture; (ii) excluding Natura 2000 sites and areas designated under national protection schemes for nature and biodiversity conservation, major bird and marine mammal migratory routes as well as other areas identified on the basis of sensitivity maps and the tools referred to in the point (iii), except for artificial and built surfaces located in those areas such as rooftops, parking areas or transport infrastructure; (iii) using all appropriate and proportionate tools and datasets to identify the areas where the renewable energy plants would not have a significant environmental impact, including wildlife sensitivity mapping, while taking into account the data available in the context of the development of a coherent Natura 2000 network, both as regards habitat types and species under Council Directive 92/43/EEC , as well as birds and sites protected under Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council ; (b) establish appropriate rules for the renewables acceleration areas on effective mitigation measures to be adopted for the installation of renewable energy plants and co-located energy storage, as well as assets necessary for the connection of such plants and storage to the grid, in order to avoid the adverse environmental impact that may arise or, where that is not possible, to significantly reduce it, where appropriate ensuring that appropriate mitigation measures are applied in a proportionate and timely manner to ensure compliance with the obligations laid down in Article 6(2) and Article 12(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC, Article 5 of Directive 2009/147/EEC and Article 4(1), point (a)(i), of Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and to avoid deterioration and achieve good ecological status or good ecological potential in accordance with Article 4(1), point (a), of Directive 2000/60/EC. The rules referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph shall be targeted to the specificities of each identified renewables acceleration area, to the type or types of renewable energy technology to be deployed in each area and to the identified environmental impact. Compliance with the rules referred to in the first subparagraph, point (b), of this paragraph and the implementation of the appropriate mitigation measures by the individual projects shall result in the presumption that projects are not in breach of those provisions without prejudice to Article 16a(4) and (5) of this Directive. Where novel mitigation measures to prevent, to the extent possible, the killing or disturbance of species protected under Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC, or any other environmental impact, have not been widely tested as regards their effectiveness, Member States may allow their use for one or several pilot projects for a limited time period, provided that the effectiveness of such mitigation measures is closely monitored and appropriate steps are taken immediately if they prove not to be effective. Competent authorities shall explain in the plans designating renewables acceleration areas referred to in the first subparagraph the assessment made to identify each designated renewables acceleration area on the basis of the criteria set out in point (a) of the first subparagraph and to identify appropriate mitigation measures.

2 Before their adoption, the plans designating renewables acceleration areas shall be subject to an environmental assessment pursuant to Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council , and, if they are likely to have a significant impact on Natura 2000 sites, to the appropriate assessment pursuant to Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC.

3 Member States shall decide the size of renewables acceleration areas, in view of the specificities and requirements of the type or types of technology for which they set up renewables acceleration areas. While retaining the discretion to decide on the size of those areas, Member States shall aim to ensure that the combined size of those areas is significant and that they contribute to the achievement of the objectives set out in this Directive. The plans designating renewables acceleration areas referred to in paragraph 1, first subparagraph, of this Article shall be made publicly available and shall be reviewed periodically, as appropriate, in particular in the context of the updating of the integrated national energy and climate plans submitted pursuant to Articles 3 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.

4 By 21 May 2024, Member States may declare as renewables acceleration areas specific areas which have already been designated to be areas suitable for an accelerated deployment of one or more types of renewable energy technology, provided that all of the following conditions are met: (a) such areas are outside Natura 2000 sites, areas designated under national protection schemes for nature and biodiversity conservation and identified bird migratory routes; (b) the plans identifying such areas have been the subject of a strategic environmental assessment pursuant to Directive 2001/42/EC and, where appropriate, of an assessment pursuant to Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC; (c) the projects located in such areas implement appropriate and proportionate rules and measures to address the adverse environmental impact that may arise.

5 The competent authorities shall apply the permit-granting procedure and deadlines referred to in Article 16a to individual projects in renewables acceleration areas.

1 Member States shall ensure public participation regarding the plans designating renewables acceleration areas referred to in Article 15c(1), first subparagraph, in accordance with Article 6 of Directive 2001/42/EC, including identifying the public affected or likely to be affected.

2 Member States shall promote public acceptance of renewable energy projects by means of direct and indirect participation of local communities in those projects.

1 Member States may adopt one or more plans to designate dedicated infrastructure areas for the development of grid and storage projects that are necessary to integrate renewable energy into the electricity system where such development is not expected to have a significant environmental impact, such an impact can be duly mitigated or, where not possible, compensated for. The aim of such areas shall be to support and complement the renewables acceleration areas. Those plans shall: (a) for grid projects, avoid Natura 2000 sites and areas designated under national protection schemes for nature and biodiversity conservation, unless there are no proportionate alternatives for their deployment, taking into account the objectives of the site; (b) for storage projects, exclude Natura 2000 sites and areas designated under national protection schemes; (c) ensure synergies with the designation of renewables acceleration areas; (d) be subject to an environmental assessment pursuant to Directive 2001/42/EC and, where applicable, to an assessment pursuant to Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC; and (e) establish appropriate and proportionate rules, including on proportionate mitigation measures to be adopted for the development of grid and storage projects in order to avoid adverse effects on the environment that may arise, or, where it is not possible to avoid such effects, to significantly reduce them. While preparing such plans, Member States shall consult the relevant infrastructure system operators.

2 By way of derogation from Article 2(1) and Article 4(2) of and Annex I, point 20, and Annex II, point (3)(b), to Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council , and by way of derogation from Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC, Member States may, under justified circumstances, including where needed to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy in order to achieve the climate and renewable energy targets, exempt grid and storage projects which are necessary to integrate renewable energy into the electricity system from the environmental impact assessment pursuant to Article 2(1) of Directive 2011/92/EU, from an assessment of their implications for Natura 2000 sites pursuant to Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC and from the assessment of their implications on species protection pursuant to Article 12(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC and to Article 5 of Directive 2009/147/EC, provided that the grid or storage project is located in a dedicated infrastructure area designated in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article and that it complies with the rules established, including on proportionate mitigation measures to be adopted, in accordance with paragraph 1, point (e), of this Article. Member States may also grant such exemptions in relation to infrastructure areas designated before 20 November 2023 if they were subject to an environmental assessment pursuant to Directive 2001/42/EC. Such derogations shall not apply to projects that are likely to have significant effects on the environment in another Member State or where a Member State likely to be significantly affected so requests, as provided for in Article 7 of Directive 2011/92/EU.

3 Where a Member State exempts grid and storage projects pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Article from the assessments referred to in that paragraph, the competent authorities of that Member State shall carry out a screening process of projects that are located in dedicated infrastructure areas. Such a screening process shall be based on existing data from the environmental assessment pursuant to Directive 2001/42/EC. The competent authorities may request the applicant to provide additional available information. The screening process shall be finalised within 30 days. It shall aim to identify if any of such projects is highly likely to give rise to significant unforeseen adverse effects, in view of the environmental sensitivity of the geographical areas where they are located, that were not identified during the environmental assessment of the plans designating dedicated infrastructure areas carried out pursuant to Directive 2001/42/EC and, where relevant, to Directive 92/43/EEC.

4 Where the screening process identifies a project to be highly likely to give rise to significant unforeseen adverse effects as referred to in paragraph 3, the competent authority shall ensure, on the basis of existing data, that appropriate and proportionate mitigation measures are applied to address those effects. Where it is not possible to apply such mitigation measures, the competent authority shall ensure that the operator adopts appropriate compensatory measures to address those effects, which, if other proportionate compensatory measures are not available, may take the form of a monetary compensation for species protection programmes, in order to ensure or improve the conservation status of the species affected.

5 Where the integration of renewable energy into the electricity system requires a project to reinforce the grid infrastructure in or outside dedicated infrastructure areas, and such a project is subject to a screening process carried out pursuant to paragraph 3 of this Article, to a determination whether the project requires an environmental impact assessment or to an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Article 4 of Directive 2011/92/EU, such a screening process, determination or environmental impact assessment shall be limited to the potential impact arising from the change or extension compared to the original grid infrastructure.

1 The permit-granting procedure shall cover all relevant administrative permits to build, repower and operate renewable energy plants, including those combining different renewable energy sources, heat pumps, and co-located energy storage, including power and thermal facilities, as well as assets necessary for the connection of such plants, heat pumps and storage to the grid, and to integrate renewable energy into heating and cooling networks, including grid-connection permits and, where required, environmental assessments. The permit-granting procedure shall comprise all administrative stages from the acknowledgment of the completeness of the permit application in accordance with paragraph 2 to the notification of the final decision on the outcome of the permit-granting procedure by the relevant competent authority or authorities.

2 Within 30 days, for renewable energy plants located in renewables acceleration areas, and within 45 days, for renewable energy plants located outside renewables acceleration areas, of receipt of an application for a permit, the competent authority shall acknowledge the completeness of the application or, if the applicant has not sent all the information required to process the application, request that the applicant submit a complete application without undue delay. The date of acknowledgement of the completeness of the application by the competent authority shall serve as the start of the permit-granting procedure.

3 Member States shall set up or designate one or more contact points. Those contact points shall, upon the request of the applicant, guide and facilitate the applicant during the entire administrative permit-application and permit-granting procedure. The applicant shall not be required to contact more than one contact point during the entire procedure. The contact point shall guide the applicant through the administrative permit-application procedure, including the steps relating to the protection of the environment, in a transparent manner up to the delivery of one or more decisions by the competent authorities at the end of the permit-granting procedure, provide the applicant with all necessary information and, where appropriate, involve, other administrative authorities. The contact point shall ensure that the deadlines for the permit-granting procedures set out in this Directive are met. Applicants shall be allowed to submit relevant documents in digital form. By 21 November 2025 Member States shall ensure that all permit-granting procedures are carried out in electronic form.

4 The contact point shall make available a manual of procedures for developers of renewable energy plants and shall provide that information online, addressing distinctly also small-scale renewable energy projects, renewables self-consumers projects and renewable energy communities. The online information shall indicate the contact point relevant to the application in question. If a Member State has more than one contact point, the online information shall indicate the contact point relevant to the application in question.

5 Member States shall ensure that applicants and the general public have easy access to simple procedures for the settlement of disputes concerning the permit-granting procedure and the issuance of permits to build and operate renewable energy plants, including, where applicable, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

6 Member States shall ensure that administrative and judicial appeals in the context of a project for the development of a renewable energy plant, the connection of that plant to the grid, and the assets necessary for the development of the energy infrastructure networks required to integrate energy from renewable sources into the energy system, including appeals related to environmental aspects, are subject to the most expeditious administrative and judicial procedure that is available at the relevant national, regional and local level.

7 Member States shall provide adequate resources to ensure qualified staff, upskilling and reskilling of their competent authorities in line with the planned installed renewable energy generation capacity provided for in their integrated national energy and climate plans submitted pursuant to Articles 3 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. Member States shall assist regional and local authorities in order to facilitate the permit-granting procedure.

8 Except when it coincides with other administrative stages of the permit-granting procedure, the duration of the permit-granting procedure shall not include: (a) the time during which the renewable energy plants, their grid connections and, with a view to ensuring grid stability, grid reliability and grid safety, the related necessary grid infrastructure, are being built or repowered; (b) the time for the administrative stages necessary for significant upgrades of the grid required to ensuring grid stability, grid reliability and grid safety; (c) the time for any judicial appeals and remedies, other proceedings before a court or tribunal, and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including complaint procedures and non-judicial appeals and remedies.

9 Decisions resulting from the permit-granting procedures shall be made publicly available in accordance with the applicable law.

1 Member States shall ensure that the permit-granting procedure referred to in Article 16(1) shall not exceed 12 months for renewable energy projects in renewables acceleration areas. However, in the case of offshore renewable energy projects, the permit-granting procedure shall not exceed two years. Where duly justified on the ground of extraordinary circumstances, Member States may extend either of those periods by up to six months. Member States shall inform the project developer clearly of the extraordinary circumstances that justify such an extension.

2 The permit-granting procedure for the repowering of renewable energy power plants, for new installations with an electrical capacity of less than 150 kW, for co-located energy storage, including power and thermal facilities, as well as for their grid connection, where located in renewables acceleration areas, shall not exceed six months. However, in the case of offshore wind energy projects, the permit-granting procedure shall not exceed 12 months. Where duly justified on the ground of extraordinary circumstances, such as on grounds of overriding safety reasons where the repowering project has a substantial impact on the grid or on the original capacity, size or performance of the installation, Member States may extend the six-month period by up to three months and the 12-month period for offshore wind energy projects by up to six months. Member States shall inform the project developer clearly about the extraordinary circumstances that justify such an extension.

3 Without prejudice to paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Article, by way of derogation from Article 4(2) of and Annex II, points 3(a), (b), (d), (h), (i), and 6(c), alone or in conjunction with point 13(a), to Directive 2011/92/EU, with regard to renewable energy projects, new applications for renewable energy plants, including plants combining different types of renewable energy technology and the repowering of renewable energy power plants in designated renewables acceleration areas for the relevant technology and co-located energy storage, as well as the connection of such plants and storage to the grid, shall be exempt from the requirement to carry out a dedicated environmental impact assessment pursuant to Article 2(1) of Directive 2011/92/EU, provided that those projects comply with Article 15c(1), point (b), of this Directive. That derogation shall not apply to projects which are likely to have significant effects on the environment in another Member State or where a Member State that is likely to be significantly affected so requests, pursuant to Article 7 of Directive 2011/92/EU. By way of derogation from Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC, the renewable energy plants referred to in the first subparagraph of this paragraph, shall not be subject to an assessment of their implications for Natura 2000 sites provided that those renewable energy projects comply with the rules and measures established in accordance with Article 15c(1), point (b), of this Directive.

4 The competent authorities shall carry out a screening process of the applications referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article. Such a screening process shall aim to identify if any of the renewable energy projects is highly likely to give rise to significant unforeseen adverse effects in view of the environmental sensitivity of the geographical areas where they are located, which were not identified during the environmental assessment of the plans designating renewables acceleration areas referred to in Article 15c(1), first subparagraph, of this Directive carried out pursuant to Directive 2001/42/EC and, where relevant, to Directive 92/43/EEC. Such a screening process shall also aim to identify if any of such renewable energy projects falls within the scope of Article 7 of Directive 2011/92/EU due to its likelihood of significant effects on the environment in another Member State or due to the request of a Member State which is likely to be significantly affected. For the purpose of such a screening process, the project developer shall provide information on the characteristics of the renewable energy project, on its compliance with the rules and measures identified pursuant to Article 15c(1), point (b), for the specific renewables acceleration area, on any additional measures adopted by the project developer, and on how those measures address environmental impact. The competent authority may request the project developer to provide additional available information. The screening process relating to applications for new renewable energy plants shall be finalised within 45 days from the date of submission of sufficient information necessary for that purpose. However, in the case of applications for installations with an electrical capacity of less than 150 kW and new applications for the repowering of renewable energy power plants, the screening process shall be finalised within 30 days.

5 Following the screening process, the applications referred to in paragraph 3 of this Article shall be authorised from an environmental perspective without requiring any express decision from the competent authority, unless the competent authority adopts an administrative decision, setting out due reasons on the basis of clear evidence, to the effect that a specific project is highly likely to give rise to significant unforeseen adverse effects in view of the environmental sensitivity of the geographical area where the project is located that cannot be mitigated by the measures identified in the plans designating acceleration areas or proposed by the project developer. Such decisions shall be made publicly available. Such renewable energy projects shall be subject to an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Directive 2011/92/EU and, if applicable, to an assessment pursuant to Directive 92/43/EEC, which shall be carried out within six months of the administrative decision identifying a high likelihood of significant unforeseen adverse effects. Where duly justified on the grounds of extraordinary circumstances, that six-month period may be extended by up to six months. In the event of justified circumstances, including where needed to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy to achieve the climate and renewable energy targets, Member States may exempt wind and solar photovoltaic projects from such assessments. Where Member States exempt wind and solar photovoltaics projects from those assessments, the operator shall adopt proportionate mitigation measures or, where such mitigation measures are not available, compensatory measures, which, if other proportionate compensatory measures are not available, may take the form of monetary compensation, in order to address any adverse effects. Where those adverse effects have an impact on species protection, the operator shall pay a monetary compensation for species protection programmes for the duration of the operation of the renewable energy plant in order to ensure or improve the conservation status of the species affected.

6 In the permit-granting procedure referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, Member States shall ensure that the lack of reply by the relevant competent authorities within the established deadline results in the specific intermediary administrative steps to be considered as approved, except where the specific renewable energy project is subject to an environmental impact assessment pursuant to paragraph 5 or where the principle of administrative tacit approval does not exist in the national legal system of the Member State concerned. This paragraph shall not apply to final decisions on the outcome of the permit-granting procedure, which shall be explicit. All decisions shall be made publicly available.

1 Member States shall ensure that the permit-granting procedure referred to in Article 16(1) shall not exceed two years for renewable energy projects located outside renewables acceleration areas. However, in the case of offshore renewable energy projects, the permit-granting procedure shall not exceed three years. Where duly justified on the grounds of extraordinary circumstances, including where they require extended periods needed for assessments under applicable Union environmental law, Member States may extend either of those periods by up to six months. Member States shall inform the project developer clearly of the extraordinary circumstances that justify such an extension.

2 Where an environmental assessment is required pursuant to Directive 2011/92/EU or 92/43/EEC, it shall be carried out in a single procedure that combines all relevant assessments for a given renewable energy project. When any such environmental impact assessment is required, the competent authority, taking into account the information provided by the project developer, shall issue an opinion on the scope and level of detail of the information to be included by the project developer in the environmental impact assessment report, of which the scope shall not be extended subsequently. Where a renewable energy project has adopted necessary mitigation measures, any killing or disturbance of the species protected under Article 12(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC and Article 5 of Directive 2009/147/EC shall not be considered to be deliberate. Where novel mitigation measures to prevent as much as possible the killing or disturbance of species protected under Directives 92/43/EEC and 2009/147/EC, or any other environmental impact, have not been widely tested as regards their effectiveness, Member States may allow their use for one or several pilot projects for a limited time period, provided that the effectiveness of such mitigation measures is closely monitored and appropriate steps are taken immediately if they do not prove to be effective. The permit-granting procedure for the repowering of renewable energy power plants, for new installations with an electrical capacity of less than 150 kW and for co-located energy storage, as well as for the connection of such plants, installations and storage to the grid, located outside renewables acceleration areas shall not exceed 12 months, including with regard to environmental assessments where required by the relevant law. However, in the case of offshore renewable energy projects, the permit-granting procedure shall not exceed two years. Where duly justified on the ground of extraordinary circumstances, Member States may extend either of those periods by up to three months. Member States shall inform the project developer clearly of the extraordinary circumstances that justify such an extension.

1 Where repowering of a renewable energy power plant does not result in an increase of the capacity of a renewable energy power plant beyond 15 %, and without prejudice to any assessment of potential environmental impact required pursuant to paragraph 2, Member States shall ensure that permit granting procedures for connections to the transmission or distribution grid shall not exceed three months following application to the relevant entity unless there are justified safety concerns or there is technical incompatibility of the system components.

2 Where the repowering of a renewable energy power plant is subject to the screening process provided for in Article 16a(4), to a determination whether the project requires an environmental impact assessment or to an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Article 4 of Directive 2011/92/EU, such a screening process, determination or environmental impact assessment shall be limited to the potential impact arising from a change or extension compared to the original project.

3 Where the repowering of solar installations does not entail the use of additional space and complies with the applicable environmental mitigation measures established for the original solar installation, the project shall be exempt from any applicable requirements to carry out a screening process as provided for in Article 16a(4), to determine whether the project requires an environmental impact assessment, or to carry out an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Article 4 of Directive 2011/92/EU.

1 Member States shall ensure that the permit-granting procedure referred to in Article 16(1) for the installation of solar energy equipment and co-located energy storage, including building-integrated solar installations, in existing or future artificial structures, with the exclusion of artificial water surfaces, shall not exceed three months, provided that the primary aim of such artificial structures is not solar energy production or energy storage. By way of derogation from Article 4(2) of and Annex II, points 3(a) and (b), alone or in conjunction with point 13(a), to Directive 2011/92/EU, such installation of solar equipment shall be exempt from the requirement, if applicable, to carry out a dedicated environmental impact assessment pursuant to Article 2(1) of that Directive. Member States may exclude certain areas or structures from the application of the first subparagraph for the purpose of protecting cultural or historical heritage, national defence interests, or safety reasons.

2 Member States shall ensure that the permit-granting procedure for the installation of solar energy equipment with a capacity of 100 kW or less, including for renewables self-consumers and renewable energy communities, shall not exceed one month. The lack of reply by the competent authorities or entities within the established deadline following the submission of a complete application shall result in the permit being considered as granted, provided that the capacity of the solar energy equipment does not exceed the existing capacity of the connection to the distribution grid. Where the application of the capacity threshold referred to in the first subparagraph leads to a significant administrative burden or to constraints to the operation of the electricity grid, Member States may apply a lower capacity threshold provided that it remains above 10,8 kW.

1 Member States shall ensure that the permit-granting procedure for the installation of heat pumps below 50 MW shall not exceed one month. However, in the case of ground source heat pumps, the permit-granting procedure shall not exceed three months.

2 Unless there are justified safety concerns, unless further works are needed for grid connections or unless there is technical incompatibility of the system components, Member States shall ensure that connections to the transmission or distribution grid shall be permitted within two weeks of the notification to the relevant entity for: (a) heat pumps of up to 12 kW electrical capacity; and (b) heat pumps of up to 50 kW electrical capacity installed by renewables self-consumers, provided that the electrical capacity of a renewables self-consumer’s renewable electricity generation installation amounts to at least 60 % of the electrical capacity of the heat pump.

3 Member States may exclude certain areas or structures from the application of paragraphs 1 and 2 for the purpose of protecting cultural or historical heritage, national defence interests, or safety reasons.

4 All decisions resulting from the permit-granting procedure referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be made publicly available in accordance with the applicable law.

By 21 February 2024, until climate neutrality is achieved, Member States shall ensure that, in the permit-granting procedure, the planning, construction and operation of renewable energy plants, the connection of such plants to the grid, the related grid itself, and storage assets are presumed as being in the overriding public interest and serving public health and safety when balancing legal interests in individual cases for the purposes of Article 6(4) and Article 16(1), point (c), of Directive 92/43/EEC, Article 4(7) of Directive 2000/60/EC and Article 9(1), point (a), of Directive 2009/147/EC. Member States may, in duly justified and specific circumstances, restrict the application of this Article to certain parts of their territory, to certain types of technology or to projects with certain technical characteristics in accordance with the priorities set out in their integrated national energy and climate plans submitted pursuant to Articles 3 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. Member States shall inform the Commission of such restrictions, together with the reasons therefor.’

1 Member States shall require transmission system operators and, if the data are available to them, distribution system operators in their territory to make available data on the share of renewable electricity and the greenhouse gas emissions content of the electricity supplied in each bidding zone, as accurately as possible in intervals equal to the market settlement frequency but of no more than one hour, with forecasting where available. Member States shall ensure that distribution system operators have access to the necessary data. If distribution system operators do not have access, pursuant to national law, to all the data needed, they shall apply the existing data reporting system under the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity, in accordance with the provisions of Directive (EU) 2019/944. Member States shall provide incentives for upgrades of smart grids to better monitor grid balance and make available real time data. If technically available, distribution system operators shall also make available anonymised and aggregated data on the demand response potential and the renewable electricity generated and injected to the grid by self-consumers and renewable energy communities.

2 The data referred to in paragraph 1 shall be made available digitally in a manner that ensures interoperability on the basis of harmonised data formats and standardised data sets so that it can be used in a non-discriminatory manner by electricity market participants, aggregators, consumers and end-users, and that it can be read by electronic communication devices such as smart metering systems, electric vehicle recharging points, heating and cooling systems and building energy management systems.

3 In addition to the requirements laid down in Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, Member States shall ensure that manufacturers of domestic and industrial batteries enable real-time access to basic battery management system information, including battery capacity, state of health, state of charge and power set point, to battery owners and users, as well as to third parties acting, with explicit consent, on the owners’ and users’ behalf, such as building energy management undertakings and electricity market participants, under non-discriminatory terms, at no cost and in accordance with the data protection rules. Member States shall adopt measures to require that vehicle manufacturers make available, in real-time, in-vehicle data related to the battery state of health, battery state of charge, battery power set point, battery capacity, and, where appropriate, the location of electric vehicles, to electric vehicle owners and users, as well as to third parties acting on the owners’ and users’ behalf, such as electricity market participants and electromobility service providers, under non-discriminatory terms and at no cost, in accordance with the data protection rules, and in addition to further requirements with regard to type approval and market surveillance laid down in Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council .

4 In addition to the requirements laid down in Regulation (EU) 2023/1804, Member States or their designated competent authorities shall ensure that new and replaced non–publicly accessible normal power recharging points installed in their territory can support smart recharging functionalities and, where appropriate, the interface with smart metering systems, when deployed by Member States, and bi-directional recharging functionalities in accordance with the requirements of Article 15(3) and (4) of that Regulation.

5 In addition to the requirements laid down in Regulation (EU) 2019/943 and Directive (EU) 2019/944, Member States shall ensure that the national regulatory framework allows small or mobile systems such as domestic batteries and electric vehicles and other small, decentralised energy sources to participate in the electricity markets, including congestion management and the provision of flexibility and balancing services, including through aggregation. To that end, Member States shall, in close cooperation with all market participants and regulatory authorities, establish technical requirements for participation in the electricity markets, on the basis of the technical characteristics of those systems. Member States shall provide a level playing field and non-discriminatory participation in the electricity markets for small, decentralised energy assets or mobile systems.

1 Member States shall endeavour to increase the share of renewable sources in the amount of energy sources used for final energy and non-energy purposes in the industry sector by an indicative increase of at least 1,6 percentage points as an annual average calculated for the periods 2021 to 2025 and 2026 to 2030. Member States may count waste heat and cold towards the average annual increases referred to in the first subparagraph up to a limit of 0,4 percentage points, provided that the waste heat and cold is supplied from efficient district heating and cooling, excluding networks which supply heat to only one building or where all thermal energy is consumed only on-site and where the thermal energy is not sold. If they decide to do so, the average annual increase referred to in the first subparagraph shall increase by half of the waste heat and cold percentage points counted. Member States shall include the policies and measures planned and taken to achieve such indicative increase in their integrated national energy and climate plans submitted pursuant to Articles 3 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and their integrated national energy and climate progress reports submitted pursuant to Article 17 of that Regulation. When electrification is considered to be a cost-effective option, those policies and measures shall promote the renewable-based electrification of industrial processes. Those policies and measures shall endeavour to create conducive market condition for the availability of economically viable and technically feasible renewable energy alternatives to replace fossil fuels used for industrial heating with the aim of reducing the use of fossil fuels used for heating in which the temperature is below 200 °C. When adopting those policies and measures, Member States shall take into account the energy efficiency first principle, effectiveness and international competitiveness and the need to tackle regulatory, administrative and economic barriers. Member States shall ensure that the contribution of renewable fuels of non-biological origin used for final energy and non-energy purposes shall be at least 42 % of the hydrogen used for final energy and non-energy purposes in industry by 2030, and 60 % by 2035. For the calculation of that percentage, the following rules shall apply: (a) for the calculation of the denominator, the energy content of hydrogen for final energy and non-energy purposes shall be taken into account, excluding: (i) hydrogen used as intermediate products for the production of conventional transport fuels and biofuels; (ii) hydrogen that is produced by decarbonising industrial residual gas and that is used to replace the specific gas from which it is produced; (iii) hydrogen produced as a by-product or derived from by-products in industrial installations; (b) for the calculation of the numerator, the energy content of the renewable fuels of non-biological origin consumed in the industry sector for final energy and non-energy purposes shall be taken into account, excluding renewable fuels of non-biological origin used as intermediate products for the production of conventional transport fuels and biofuels; (c) for the calculation of the numerator and the denominator, the values regarding the energy content of fuels set out in Annex III shall be used. For the purposes of point (c) of the fifth subparagraph of this paragraph„ in order to determine the energy content of fuels not included in Annex III, the Member States shall use the relevant European standards for the determination of the calorific values of fuels, or where no European standard has been adopted for that purpose, the relevant ISO standards.

2 Member States shall promote voluntary labelling schemes for industrial products that are claimed to be produced with renewable energy and renewable fuels of non-biological origin. Such voluntary labelling schemes shall indicate the percentage of renewable energy used or renewable fuels of non-biological origin used in the raw material acquisition and pre-processing, manufacturing and distribution stage, calculated on the basis of the methodologies laid down either in Commission Recommendation (EU) 2021/2279 or in ISO 14067:2018.

3 Member States shall report the amount of renewable fuels of non-biological origin that they expect to import and export in their integrated national energy and climate plans submitted pursuant to Articles 3 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and in their integrated national energy and climate progress reports submitted pursuant to Article 17 of that Regulation. On the basis of that reporting, the Commission shall develop a Union strategy for imported and domestic hydrogen with the aim of promoting the European hydrogen market as well as domestic hydrogen production within the Union, supporting the implementation of this Directive and the achievement of the targets laid down herein, while having due regard to security of supply and the Union’s strategic autonomy in energy and level playing field on the global hydrogen market. Member States shall indicate in their integrated national energy and climate plans submitted pursuant to Articles 3 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and in their integrated national energy and climate progress reports submitted pursuant to Article 17 of that Regulation how they intend to contribute to that strategy.

1 A Member State may reduce the contribution of renewable fuels of non-biological origin used for final energy and non-energy purposes referred to in Article 22a(1), fifth subparagraph, by 20 % in 2030, provided that: (a) that Member State is on track towards its national contribution to the binding overall Union target set in Article 3(1), first subparagraph, which is at least equivalent to its expected national contribution in accordance with the formula referred to in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999; and (b) the share of hydrogen, or its derivatives, produced from fossil fuels which is consumed in that Member State is not more than 23 % in 2030 and not more than 20 % in 2035. Where any of those conditions are not fulfilled, the reduction referred to in the first subparagraph shall cease to apply.

2 Where a Member State applies the reduction referred to in paragraph 1, it shall notify the Commission thereof, together with its integrated national energy and climate plans submitted pursuant to Articles 3 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 and as part of its integrated national energy and climate progress reports submitted pursuant to Article 17 of that Regulation. The notification shall include information about the updated share of renewable fuels of non-biological origin and all relevant data to demonstrate that conditions set out in paragraph 1, points (a) and (b), of this Article are fulfilled. The Commission shall monitor the situation in Member States benefitting from a reduction with a view to verifying the ongoing fulfilment of conditions set out in paragraph 1, points (a) and (b).

1 Each Member State shall set an obligation on fuel suppliers to ensure that: (a) the amount of renewable fuels and renewable electricity supplied to the transport sector leads to a: (i) share of renewable energy within the final consumption of energy in the transport sector of at least 29 % by 2030; or (ii) greenhouse gas intensity reduction of at least 14,5 % by 2030, compared to the baseline set out in Article 27(1), point (b), in accordance with an indicative trajectory set by the Member State; (b) the combined share of advanced biofuels and biogas produced from the feedstock listed in Part A of Annex IX and of renewable fuels of non-biological origin in the energy supplied to the transport sector is at least 1 % in 2025 and 5,5 % in 2030, of which a share of at least 1 percentage point is from renewable fuels of non-biological origin in 2030. Member States are encouraged to set differentiated targets for advanced biofuels and biogas produced from the feedstock listed in Part A of Annex IX and renewable fuels of non-biological origin at national level in order to fulfil the obligation set out in the first subparagraph, point (b), of this paragraph, in a way that the development of both fuels is promoted and expanded. Member States with maritime ports shall endeavour to ensure that as of 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 %. Member States shall, in their integrated national energy and climate progress reports submitted pursuant to Article 17 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, report on the share of renewable energy within the final consumption of energy in the transport sector, including in the maritime transport sector, as well as on their greenhouse gas intensity reduction. If the list of feedstock set out in Part A of Annex IX is amended in accordance with Article 28(6), Member States may increase their minimum share of advanced biofuels and biogas produced from that feedstock in the energy supplied to the transport sector accordingly.

2 For the calculation of the targets referred to in paragraph 1, first subparagraph, point (a), and the shares referred to in paragraph 1, first subparagraph, point (b), Member States: (a) shall take into account renewable fuels of non-biological origin also when they are used as intermediate products for the production of: (i) conventional transport fuels; or (ii) biofuels, provided that the greenhouse gas emissions reduction achieved by the use of renewable fuels of non-biological origin is not counted in the calculation of the greenhouse gas emissions savings of the biofuels; (b) may take into account biogas that is injected into the national gas transmission and distribution infrastructure.

3 For the calculation of the targets set in paragraph 1, first subparagraph, point (a), Member States may take into account recycled carbon fuels. When designing the obligation on fuel suppliers, Member States may: (a) exempt fuel suppliers supplying electricity or renewable fuels of non-biological origin from the requirement to comply with the minimum share of advanced biofuels and biogas produced from the feedstock listed in Part A of Annex IX with respect to those fuels; (b) set the obligation by means of measures targeting volumes, energy content or greenhouse gas emissions; (c) distinguish between different energy carriers; (d) distinguish between the maritime transport sector and other sectors.

4 Member States shall establish a mechanism allowing fuel suppliers in their territory to exchange credits for supplying renewable energy to the transport sector. Economic operators that supply renewable electricity to electric vehicles through public recharging points shall receive credits, irrespectively of whether the economic operators are subject to the obligation set by the Member State on fuel suppliers, and may sell those credits to fuel suppliers, which shall be allowed to use the credits to fulfil the obligation set out in paragraph 1, first subparagraph. Member States may include private recharging points in that mechanism provided it can be demonstrated that renewable electricity supplied to those private recharging points is provided solely to electric vehicles.’

1 For the calculation of the greenhouse gas intensity reduction referred to in Article 25(1), first subparagraph, point (a)(ii), the following rules shall apply: (a) the greenhouse gas emissions savings shall be calculated as follows: (i) for biofuel and biogas, by multiplying the amount of those fuels supplied to all transport modes by their greenhouse gas emissions savings determined in accordance with Article 31; (ii) for renewable fuels of non-biological origin and recycled carbon fuels, by multiplying the amount of those fuels that is supplied to all transport modes by their greenhouse gas emissions savings determined in accordance with delegated acts adopted pursuant to Article 29a(3); (iii) for renewable electricity, by multiplying the amount of renewable electricity that is supplied to all transport modes by the fossil fuel comparator ECF(e) set out in in Annex V; (b) the baseline referred to in Article 25(1), first subparagraph, point (a)(ii), shall be calculated until 31 December 2030 by multiplying the amount of energy supplied to the transport sector by the fossil fuel comparator EF(t) set out in Annex V; from 1 January 2031, the baseline referred to in Article 25(1), first subparagraph, point (a)(ii), shall be the sum of: (i) the amount of fuels supplied to all transport modes multiplied by the fossil fuel comparator EF(t) set out in Annex V; (ii) the amount of electricity supplied to all transport modes multiplied by the fossil fuel comparator ECF(e) set out in Annex V; (c) for the calculation of the relevant amounts of energy, the following rules shall apply: (i) in order to determine the amount of energy supplied to the transport sector, the values regarding the energy content of transport fuels set out in Annex III shall be used; (ii) in order to determine the energy content of transport fuels not included in Annex III, the Member States shall use the relevant European standards for the determination of the calorific values of fuels, or, where no European standard has been adopted for that purpose, the relevant ISO standards; (iii) the amount of renewable electricity supplied to the transport sector is determined by multiplying the amount of electricity supplied to that sector by the average share of renewable electricity supplied in the territory of the Member State in the two previous years, unless electricity is obtained from a direct connection to an installation generating renewable electricity and supplied to the transport sector, in which case electricity shall be fully counted as renewable and electricity generated by a solar-electric vehicle and used for the consumption of the vehicle itself may be fully counted as renewable; (iv) the share of biofuels and biogas produced from the feedstock listed in Part B of Annex IX in the energy content of fuels and electricity supplied to the transport sector shall, except in Cyprus and Malta, be limited to 1,7 %; (d) the greenhouse gas intensity reduction from the use of renewable energy is determined by dividing the greenhouse gas emissions savings from the use of biofuels, biogas, renewable fuels of non-biological origin and renewable electricity supplied to all transport modes by the baseline; Member States may take into account recycled carbon fuels. Member States may, where justified, increase the limit referred to in the first subparagraph, point (c)(iv), of this paragraph, taking into account the availability of feedstock listed in Part B of Annex IX. Any such increase shall be notified to the Commission, together with the reasons therefor, and shall be subject to approval by the Commission.

2 For the calculation of the minimum shares referred to in Article 25(1), first subparagraph, point (a)(i) and point (b), the following rules shall apply: (a) for the calculation of the denominator, that is the amount of energy consumed in the transport sector, all fuels and electricity supplied to the transport sector shall be taken into account; (b) for the calculation of the numerator, that is the amount of energy from renewable sources consumed in the transport sector for the purposes of Article 25(1), first subparagraph, the energy content of all types of energy from renewable sources supplied to all transport modes, including to international marine bunkers, in the territory of each Member State shall be taken into account; Member States may take into account recycled carbon fuels; (c) the share of biofuels and biogas produced from the feedstock listed in Annex IX and renewable fuels of non-biological origin shall be considered to be twice its energy content; (d) the share of renewable electricity shall be considered to be four times its energy content when supplied to road vehicles and may be considered to be 1,5 times its energy content when supplied to rail transport; (e) the share of advanced biofuels and biogas produced from the feedstock listed in Part A of Annex IX supplied in the aviation and maritime transport modes shall be considered to be 1,2 times their energy content and the share of renewable fuels of non-biological origin supplied in the aviation and maritime transport modes shall be considered to be 1,5 times their energy content; (f) the share of biofuels and biogas produced from the feedstock listed in Part B of Annex IX in the energy content of fuels and electricity supplied to the transport sector shall, except in Cyprus and Malta, be limited to 1,7 %; (g) in order to determine the amount of energy supplied to the transport sector, the values regarding the energy content of transport fuels set out in Annex III shall be used; (h) in order to determine the energy content of transport fuels not included in Annex III, the Member States shall use the relevant European standards for the determination of the calorific values of fuels, or, where no European standard has been adopted for that purpose, the relevant ISO standards; (i) the amount of renewable electricity supplied to the transport sector shall be determined by multiplying the amount of electricity supplied to that sector by the average share of renewable electricity supplied in the territory of the Member State in the two previous years, unless electricity is obtained from a direct connection to an installation generating renewable electricity and supplied to the transport sector, in which case that electricity shall be fully counted as renewable and electricity generated by a solar-electric vehicle and used for the consumption of the vehicle itself may be fully counted as renewable. Member States may, where justified, increase the limit referred to in the first subparagraph, point (f), of this paragraph, taking into account the availability of feedstock listed in Part B of Annex IX. Any such increase shall be notified to the Commission, together with the reason therefor, and shall be subject to approval by the Commission.

3 The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 35 to amend this Directive by adapting the limit on the share of biofuels and biogas produced from the feedstock listed in Part B of Annex IX on the basis of an assessment of the availability of feedstock. The limit shall be at least 1,7 %. If the Commission adopts such a delegated act, the limit set out in it shall also apply to Member States that have obtained an approval from the Commission to increase the limit, in accordance with paragraph 1, second subparagraph, or paragraph 2, second subparagraph,) of this Article, after a five-years transitional period, without prejudice to the right of the Member State to apply that new limit earlier. Member States may apply for a new approval from the Commission for an increase from the limit laid down in the delegated act in accordance with paragraph 1, second subparagraph, or paragraph 2, second subparagraph, of this Article.

4 The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 35 to amend this Directive by adapting transport fuels and their energy content as set out in Annex III in accordance with scientific and technical progress.

5 For the purpose of the calculations referred to in paragraph 1, first subparagraph, point (b), and in paragraph 2, first subparagraph, point (a), the amount of energy supplied to the maritime transport sector shall, as a proportion of that Member State’s gross final consumption of energy, be considered to be no more than 13 %. For Cyprus and Malta, the amount of energy consumed in the maritime transport sector shall, as a proportion of those Member States’ gross final consumption of energy, be considered to be no more than 5 %. This paragraph shall apply until 31 December 2030.

6 Where electricity is used for the production of renewable fuels of non-biological origin, either directly or for the production of intermediate products, the average share of electricity from renewable sources in the country of production, as measured two years before the year in question, shall be used to determine the share of renewable energy. However, electricity obtained from a direct connection to an installation generating renewable electricity may be fully counted as renewable where it is used for the production of renewable fuels of non-biological origin, provided that the installation: (a) comes into operation after, or at the same time as, the installation producing the renewable fuels of non-biological origin; and (b) is not connected to the grid, or is connected to the grid but evidence can be provided that the electricity concerned has been supplied without taking electricity from the grid. Electricity that has been taken from the grid may be fully counted as renewable provided that it is produced exclusively from renewable sources and the renewable properties and other appropriate criteria have been demonstrated, ensuring that the renewable properties of that electricity are counted only once and only in one end-use sector. By 31 December 2021, the Commission shall adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 35 to supplement this Directive by establishing a Union methodology setting out detailed rules by which economic operators are to comply with the requirements laid down in the second and third subparagraphs of this paragraph. By 1 July 2028, the Commission shall submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council assessing the impact of the Union methodology set out in accordance with the fourth subparagraph, including the impact of additionality and temporal and geographical correlation on production costs, greenhouse gas emissions savings, and the energy system. That Commission report shall, in particular, assess the impact on the availability and affordability of renewable fuels of non-biological origin for industry and transport sectors and on the ability of the Union to achieve its targets for renewable fuels of non-biological origin taking into account the Union strategy for imported and domestic hydrogen in accordance with Article 22a, while minimising the increase in greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector and the overall energy system. Where the report concludes that the requirements fall short of ensuring sufficient availability and affordability of renewable fuels of non-biological origin for industry and transport sectors and do not substantially contribute to greenhouse gas emissions savings, energy system integration and the achievement of the Union targets for renewable fuels of non-biological origin set for 2030, the Commission shall review the Union methodology and shall, where appropriate, adopt a delegated act in accordance with Article 35 to amend that methodology, providing the necessary adjustments to the criteria laid down in the second and third subparagraphs of this paragraph in order to facilitate the ramp-up of the hydrogen industry.’

1 Energy from renewable fuels of non-biological origin shall be counted towards Member States’ shares of renewable energy and the targets referred to in Articles 3(1), 15a(1), 22a(1), 23(1), 24(4) and 25(1) only if the greenhouse gas emissions savings from the use of those fuels are at least 70 %.

2 Energy from recycled carbon fuels may be counted towards the targets referred to in Article 25(1), first subparagraph, point (a), only if the greenhouse gas emissions savings from the use of those fuels are at least 70 %.

3 The Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 35 to supplement this Directive by specifying the methodology for assessing greenhouse gas emissions savings from renewable fuels of non-biological origin and from recycled carbon fuels. The methodology shall ensure that credit for avoided emissions is not given for CO2 from fossil sources the capture of which has already received an emission credit under other provisions of law. The methodology shall cover the life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions and consider indirect emissions resulting from the diversion of rigid inputs such as wastes used for the production of recycled carbon fuels.’

1 By 21 November 2024, the Commission shall ensure that a Union database is set up to enable the tracing of liquid and gaseous renewable fuels and recycled carbon fuels (the ‘Union database’).

2 Member States shall require the relevant economic operators to enter in a timely manner accurate data into the Union database on the transactions made and the sustainability characteristics of the fuels subject to those transactions, including their life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions, starting from their point of production to the moment they are placed on the market in the Union. For the purpose of entering data into the Union database, the interconnected gas system shall be considered to be a single mass balance system. Data on the injection and withdrawal of renewable gaseous fuels shall be provided in the Union database. Data on whether support has been provided for the production of a specific consignment of fuel, and if so, on the type of support scheme, shall also be entered into the Union database. Those data may be entered into the Union database via national databases. Where appropriate for the purpose of improving the traceability of data along the entire supply chain, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts in accordance with Article 35 to supplement this Directive by further extending the scope of the data to be included in the Union database to cover relevant data from the point of production or collection of the raw material used for the fuel production. Member States shall require fuel suppliers to enter the data necessary to verify compliance with the requirements laid down in Article 25(1), first subparagraph, into the Union database. Notwithstanding the first, second and third subparagraphs, for gaseous fuels injected into the Union’s interconnected gas infrastructure, economic operators shall, in the event that the Member State decides to complement a mass balance system by a system of guarantees of origin, enter into the Union database data on the transactions made and on the sustainability characteristics and other relevant data, such as greenhouse gas emissions of the fuels up to the injection point to the interconnected gas infrastructure.

3 Member States shall have access to the Union database for the purposes of monitoring and data verification.

4 Where guarantees of origin have been issued for the production of a consignment of renewable gas, Member States shall ensure that those guarantees of origin are transferred to the Union database at the moment when a consignment of renewable gas is registered in the Union database and are cancelled after the consignment of renewable gas is withdrawn from the Union’s interconnected gas infrastructure. Such guarantees of origin, once transferred, shall not be tradable outside the Union database.

5 Member States shall ensure in their national legal framework that the accuracy and completeness of the data entered by economic operators into the database is verified, for instance by using certification bodies in the framework of voluntary or national schemes recognised by the Commission pursuant to Article 30(4), (5) and (6) and which may be complemented by a system of guarantees of origin. Such voluntary or national schemes may use third-party data systems as intermediaries to collect the data, provided that such use has been notified to the Commission. Each Member State may use an already existing national database aligned to and linked with the Union database via an interface, or establish a national database, which can be used by economic operators as a tool for collecting and declaring data and for entering and transferring those data into the Union database, provided that: (a) the national database complies with the Union database including in terms of the timeliness of data transmission, the typology of data sets transferred, and the protocols for data quality and data verification; (b) Member States ensure that the data entered into the national database are instantly transferred to the Union database. Member States may establish national databases in accordance with national law or practice, such as to take into account stricter national requirements, as regards sustainability criteria. Such national databases shall not hinder the overall traceability of sustainable consignments of raw materials or fuels to be entered into the Union database in accordance with this Directive. The verification of the quality of the data entered into the Union database by means of national databases, the sustainability characteristics of the fuels related to those data, and the final approval of transactions shall be carried out through the Union database alone. The accuracy and completeness of those data shall be verified in accordance with Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996 . They may be checked by certification bodies. Member States shall notify the detailed features of their national database to the Commission. Following that notification, the Commission shall assess whether the national database complies with the requirements laid down in the third subparagraph. If that is not the case, the Commission may require Member States to take appropriate steps to ensure compliance with those requirements.

6 Aggregated data from the Union database shall be made publicly available, with due regard to the protection of commercially sensitive information, and shall be kept up-to-date. The Commission shall publish and make publicly available annual reports about the data contained in the Union database, including the quantities, the geographical origin and feedstock type of fuels.

‘2 Member States shall collectively ensure that the sum of their contributions amounts to at least the level of the Union’s binding target for renewable energy for 2030 set in Article 3(1) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001.’

‘2 In the area of renewable energy, as part of its assessment referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission shall assess the progress made in the share of energy from renewable sources in the Union’s gross final consumption of energy on the basis of an indicative Union trajectory that starts from 20 % in 2020, reaches reference points of at least 18 % in 2022, 43 % in 2025 and 65 % in 2027 of the total increase in the share of energy from renewable sources between the Union’s 2020 renewable energy target and the Union’s 2030 renewable energy target, and reaches the Union’s binding target for renewable energy for 2030 set in Article 3(1) of Directive (EU) 2018/2001.’

This Directive sets, in respect of road vehicles, and non-road mobile machinery, including inland waterway vessels when not at sea, agricultural and forestry tractors, and recreational craft when not at sea, technical specifications on health and environmental grounds for fuels to be used with positive ignition and compression-ignition engines, taking account of the technical requirements of those engines.’

1 Member States shall ensure that the data collected and reported to the authority designated by the Member State with respect to the year 2023 or a part thereof in accordance with Article 7a(1), third subparagraph, and Article 7a(7) of Directive 98/70/EC, which are deleted by Article 3, point (4), of this Directive, are submitted to the Commission.

2 The Commission shall include the data referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article in any report it is obliged to submit under Directive 98/70/EC.

1 Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 21 May 2025. By way of derogation from the first subparagraph of this paragraph, Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with Article 1, point (6), with regard to Article 15e of Directive (EU) 2018/2001, and Article 1, point (7), with regard to Articles 16, 16b,16c, 16d, 16e and 16f of that Directive, by 1 July 2024. They shall immediately inform the Commission of those measures. When Member States adopt those measures, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or shall be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. The methods of making such reference shall be laid down by Member States.

2 Member States shall communicate to the Commission the text of the main measures of national law which they adopt in the field covered by this Directive.

Council Directive (EU) 2015/652 is repealed with effect from 1 January 2025.

This Directive shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. This Directive is addressed to the Member States.