Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISIEU RES-Monitoring / RES-Observer II
RES Observer II (2021 – 2025) focuses on RES-E and RES-H&C integration and RES investment, while the previous RES Observer (2017 - 2020) focused on flexibility, innovation and competition and RE H&C.
European Union Member States have been engaged into a deep and fundamental energy transition. They started setting a comprehensive policy framework supporting RES deployment (Directive 2009/28/EC) and went further with the Renewable Energy Directive (Directive 2018/2001, RED II) by introducing a new binding renewable energy target of 32% RES share of gross final energy consumption by 2030. The current directive (Directive 2023/2413, RED III) raises the binding target further to 42.5% by 2030 in order to achieve a reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions of at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.
The EU aims to become the world leader in renewables. Binding national targets for 2030 became the key driver for European countries and have been stimulating global investment in renewable technologies and supportive renewable energy policies. The energy transition is also driven by other major objectives: securing energy supply, ensuring that energy providers operate in a competitive environment and reducing fossil fuel dependence and greenhouse gas emissions. This global context makes it necessary to have a broad scope of indicators monitoring the impacts of renewable energy technology development beyond the sole energy dimension.