The Industry, Research and Energy Committee will adopt its positions on two draft bills that are part of the “Fit for 55” package to fight climate change. MEPs will vote on new EU targets to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and increase energy efficiency. The measures would also support the EU’s energy sovereignty and security in the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Following the vote, Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), rapporteur, holds a press conference on the revision of the renewable energy directive.

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PIEPER, Markus (EPP, DE)

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Press conference by Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, on the revision of the renewable energy directive

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER, Rapporteur, Thank you very much. And I would speak in German because we have interpretation. So today we managed to achieve a milestone for the EU energy transition. The Renewable Energy Directive package was confirmed in Committee today in the ITRE committee and from the right wing to the left wing consensus was achieved and we managed to get everyone behind the ambitious 45% goal.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER, Rapporteur, The Commission had set 40% for the Fit for 55 by 2030, we've increased that. So we're not just setting the goal, we're saying how it could work. The proposals from the Commission, we feel are too timid and not innovative enough, and we want to achieve the comprehensive deployment of hydrogen and infrastructure projects. We want to double this. We want to have at least two cross-border projects in the larger countries, if not three.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER, Rapporteur, We want to have an innovation quota when it comes to the rollout of renewables with investment in new capacities, and 5% needs to go beyond the state of the art. And then the proof of origin is another issue. We want it to be made more digital and more straightforward. It should be possible for the owner of a PV plant to be able to supply the network straightaway.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER, Rapporteur, Pooling should be possible straight away and incomplicated way, and there should be indirect book and claim models with regard to hydrogen. So all this was incorporated in Article one. Everything should be made more swift and more simple and more simple for biomass. We don't want to have a single cascade principle from Scandinavia to Greece. We don't want full harmonisation with regard to the use of wood.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER, Rapporteur, We do want the cascade principle, but with an implementing act, not a delegated act, which means that the Commission has to work bilaterally with the Member States and negotiate according to conditions in situ. We still have problems with regard to the definition of secondary and primary biomass. The criteria from the N.V. Committee, we feel, would limit the availability of biomass. Then there's the sectoral aims. That's the fifth area I wanted to raise for industry.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER, Rapporteur, We want to have a sectoral goal of 50% with regard to hydrogen for buildings. And then we need to look at the availability of green hydrogen so that we're not overburdening our companies. And then my sixth point relates to low carbon solutions being admitted. That's just suggested in a recital, but we want to have low carbon solutions when it comes to the gas and hydrogen directives.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER, Rapporteur, So this is something the rapporteur of the gas and hydrogen package. Because if we don't achieve the ambitious green hydrogen aims, all the hydrogen will be from natural gas. It will be grey hydrogen. So we need to look at CCS and blue hydrogen and ensure that there is security for investors.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER, Rapporteur, And then there's the issue of the import strategy. We agree that only 30 to 40% of renewables can be produced in Europe. So I was very glad to see the openness towards setting import goals for the member states that need to be indicative milestones given in their strategies for imports.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER, Rapporteur, And if there is diversification to be data diversification and technology transfer for developing countries, I think that's a win-win situation. So what remains what what did we lose as EP criteria for production of green hydrogen? There's a delegated act and with this directive, we wanted to call that into question to some extent, but unfortunately we missed out on doing this by two votes.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER, Rapporteur, And so we will amend, but this will for the plenary vote. Then with regard to the REpower there's the issue of approval procedures which has really been put in brackets, we think they these need to be speeded up. Obviously, there needs to be compromises with biodiversity, the population needs to be protected.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER, Rapporteur, And it may be that this will be dealt with in Renewable Energy Directive four. There'll be a further report to be submitted to the Committee on the 26th of September. So to sum up, there's a cross group acceptance of most of the compromises, the vast majority of compromises.

SOUNDBITE (German), Markus PIEPER, Rapporteur, The groups want to support the swift and modern rollout and the extension of renewable energies. We have found a pragmatic approach. We're not just saying we want more. We're saying how this should be done. It's very ambitious, I admit. But these goals are achievable. I'm very happy to answer any questions.

Q&A Question regarding whether the former wind power plqnts can be adjusted to also produce hydrogen.

Q&amp;A Question regarding his opinion on the dificulty to convince the Council and the energy ministers.

Q&A Question the regarding whether Parliament is planning to reject the delegated act for being too complicated. And if so, when is the vote on that planned.