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Rapid Turns in European Renewable Energy Policy: Advocacy and Framing in the Proposed Trading of Guarantees of Origin

This report analyses the rise and fall of the GO trading proposal in the European policy-making machinery during 2007 and 2008.

Måns Nilsson / Published on 13 March 2009
Citation

Nilsson, M.; Nilsson, L.J.; Ericsson, K. (2008). Rapid Turns in European Renewable Energy Policy: Advocacy and Framing in the Proposed Trading of Guarantees of Origin. Nilsson, M., Nilsson, L.J. and K. Ericsson. (2008). Rapid Turns in European Renewable Energy Policy: Advocacy and Framing in the Proposed Trading of Guarantees of Origin. Lysaker, Norway: Fridtjof Nansen Institute. FNI report 9/2008.

The EU has assumed ambitious targets and strategies for the promotion of renewable sources of energy (RES) binding on all its member states.

In March 2007, the European Council decided on an binding 20 percent overall renewable consumption target for the EU by 2020, along with targets for 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a 20 percent increase in energy efficiency.

All three targets eventually led to the popular acronym ’20/20/20′. GO was designed to achieve these targets.

The report concludes that the political battle between advocates of the European internal market and guardians of national interests forced Guarantees of Origin (GO) – EU’s proposed trade instrument designed to help reach renewable energy and heat targets – to a halt.

Guardians of national interests have so far had the upper hand when it comes to shaping future energy policy development.

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Måns Nilsson
Måns Nilsson

Former Executive Director