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MADRID: Spain, Portugal, and Luxembourg have urged the European Union to set a 2040 target to expand renewable energy, in a letter seen by Reuters on Tuesday, setting up a clash with other EU countries who want the goal to include nuclear power.<\/p>\n
The European Commission is preparing a raft of new EU energy policies to steer the bloc\u2019s energy strategy after 2030. The EU has a target \u2060to increase the \u2060share of renewable sources in its overall energy consumption by 2030 to 42.5 percent, but currently no 2040 goal.<\/p>\n
\u201cInvestors need to have clear signals,\u201d Spanish Energy Minister Sara Aagesen told reporters on Tuesday about why Spain wants a renewables goal.<\/p>\n
The three countries said in the letter to EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jorgensen, dated 25 September and seen by Reuters: \u201cRenewables are \u2060proven and competitive solutions that can be deployed in the EU at scale and on time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pointing to the impact of the war with Iran, it said: \u201cA high reliance on fossil fuels puts our economies and citizens in a vulnerable position. Because of geopolitical uncertainties, and as shown by the consequences of the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, we need to act fast to cut dependencies.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, their call sets up a clash with other EU governments, who want a broader \u201cclean energy\u201d goal that would include nuclear power \u2014 an energy source which nations including France and \u2060Sweden have \u2060championed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce reliance on fossil fuel imports.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe definitely have to see nuclear as part of the solution,\u201d Finland\u2019s Climate Minister Sari Multala told reporters on Tuesday, at a meeting of EU energy ministers.<\/p>\n
The EU has no targets to expand nuclear energy, because some member countries \u2014 such as Austria and Luxembourg \u2014 firmly oppose the energy source, citing concerns about safety and nuclear waste.<\/p>\n
As EU consumers struggle with rising energy and fuel prices due to the US-Israeli war with Iran, Aagesen said Spain and five other countries have asked the EU to consider measures to capture companies\u2019 windfall profits from high energy prices.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n