Promoting Renewable Energy in the EU: Shifting Trends in Member State Policy Space

Abstract

Member States have sought to implement European Union (EU) initiatives on the promotion of renewable energy for almost 20 years. However, some Member States are now finding that some of these very policy initiatives on renewable energy promotion have the capacity to conflict with these same Member States’ other EU and international obligations, such as in the areas of international trade, foreign investment protection, and the functioning of the internal energy market. This article will provide an historical progression of EU laws and policies concerning the promotion of renewable energy generation, identify many of the factors inhibiting or challenging the achievement of EU renewable energy policy goals, and consider whether the proposed shifts in renewable energy promotion policy are likely to be effective in addressing these challenges.