RED II sets the EU target for renewables to reach at least 42.5% of total energy consumption by 2030. It covers all renewable sources, promotes self-consumption, renewable energy communities, and sustainable bioenergy.
Romania’s transposition supports investments in wind, solar, and hydro projects, and simplifies permitting. The directive offers significant opportunities for communities and businesses to integrate renewables, with digital forecasting, storage management and smart grid solutions enhancing efficiency and profitability.
Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) – 2018 Framework
The Renewable Energy Directive, formally Directive (EU) 2018/2001 and often referred to as RED II, sets the framework for increasing the share of renewable energy in the European Union’s total energy consumption. Its primary target is for renewables to account for at least 42.5% of EU energy consumption by 2030, with an additional voluntary ambition of reaching 45%. This directive supports the European Green Deal and the EU’s commitment to becoming climate-neutral by 2050.
The directive covers all renewable sources, including wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and sustainable biomass. It sets binding national contributions, provides rules for the design of support schemes, and ensures the removal of administrative barriers to renewable deployment. RED II also includes provisions for self-consumption, renewable energy communities, guarantees of origin, and sustainability criteria for bioenergy.
For the heating and cooling sector, RED II sets indicative annual increases in renewable share, while in transport, it requires a minimum share of advanced biofuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin. The directive also encourages Member States to integrate renewables into district heating networks and to promote hybrid systems combining different renewable technologies.
In Romania, RED II has been transposed into national law through measures that support renewable energy producers, simplify permitting procedures, and promote grid integration. The Ministry of Energy and the Romanian Energy Regulatory Authority are responsible for implementation, monitoring, and reporting progress. Romania’s renewable energy sector is growing, particularly in solar and wind, and RED II provides a policy backbone for further investments and innovation.
For businesses and communities, the directive opens opportunities to generate and consume renewable energy locally, participate in energy communities, and access funding for green projects. Digital tools such as smart inverters, energy storage management, and predictive forecasting systems enhance the efficiency and profitability of renewable installations.
