The European Commission is drafting a proposal to meet climate targets while accelerating the deployment of renewable energy.

In the draft proposal seen by Review Energy, Brussels says that in five key sectors - solar, wind, heat pumps, batteries and electrolysers - production capacity should be able to meet at least 40% of the EU's needs as it seeks to reach its net zero emissions target by 2050.

The draft law seeks to reduce bureaucracy and improve permitting and access to finance for "strategic technologies". In this regard, the document lists the technologies as follows:

• Solar Photovoltaic and solar thermal technologies
• Onshore and offshore wind technologies
• Battery technologies
• Heat Pumps [and geothermal energy]
• Renewable hydrogen technologies
• Biomethane technologies
• Nuclear technologies (fission)
• Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS)
• Grid technologies

According to de draft, “the net-zero technology manufacturing capacity in the Union is sufficient to meet at least 40% of the Union’s annual deployment needs for the corresponding technology necessary to reach the REPowerEU and Green deal objectives”.

The draft therefore refers to a few specific objectives as outlined below:

• The solar PV manufacturing capacity within the Union is able to meet at least 40% of the solar PV annual deployment needs within the Union.
• The wind turbine manufacturing capacity in the Union is able to meet at least 85% of the wind annual deployment needs within the Union.
• The heat pump manufacturing capacity within the Union is able to meet at least 60% of the heat pump annual deployment needs within the Union.
• The battery manufacturing capacity within the Union is able to meet at least 85% of the battery annual demand within the Union.
• The electrolyser manufacturing capacity within the Union is able to meet at least 50% of the renewable and fossil-free hydrogen annual deployment needs within the Union.