On 30th June the European Commission adopted a decision establishing a template for National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs) as required by the recent Renewable Energy Directive. The template will guide Member States through the elaboration of their Renewable Energy Action Plan where they will have to describe in detail their strategies for reaching the 2020 renewable energy targets. Each Member State must submit a NREAP to the Commission by 30 June 2010 latest.

The new Directive on renewable energy sets ambitious targets for all Member States, such that the EU will reach a 20% share of energy from renewable sources by 2020 and a 10% share of renewable energy specifically in the transport sector. Article 24 of the Directive requires the Commission to establish a platform for the publication of a range of documents about renewable energy.

NGVA Europe says these include:

·The Commission’s template for the national renewable energy action plans

·The national action plans themselves (due by 30 June 2010)

·Member States’ forecasts of expected transfers of shares of renewable energy (import needs and export availability) as statistical transfers or joint projects (due by December 2009)

·Member States offers and requests for statistical transfers/joint projects and the details of those exchanges that occur

·Member States’ progress reports (first due by December 2011)

·The Commission’s progress reports (first due by December 2012).

As each of these documents is produced, it will appear on the official website of the European Commission.