European roadmaps to achieving 2030 renewable energy targets

Abstract

Increasing the renewable energy share of electricity generation is central to decarbonization policies, and the European Union has set up binding 2030 targets. This study evaluates the potential enhancement of these countries’ paths toward these targets and provides insights into their performance in meeting their National Energy and Climate Plan targets. It predicts the distance to these targets through a three-step approach and estimates potential improvements. European performance could improve by 1.65% by 2030 if it emulates top-performing countries, independent of further policy interventions. These insights can aid policymakers in designing effective policies and utilities in developing industrial strategies.