Renewable Energy in the European Union: The State of the Art and Directions of Development

Abstract

The transition of the energy system in the European Union (EU) from non-renewable to renewable energy aims to guarantee the energy supply, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce energy costs, and lead to industrial development, growth, and occupation. The revised renewable energy directive EU/2023/2413 raises the binding renewable target for the EU in 2030 to a minimum of 42.5%. This means almost doubling the existing share of energy from renewable sources in the EU. This study is concerned with presenting state-of-the-art regarding renewable energy sources in EU countries, predicting the share of renewable energy in 2030, and investigating the relationships between this share and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The results of the research indicate a significant relationship between increasing renewable energy sources and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions in the EU.