In recent months, CO₂ Value Europe published a position paper on the post-2030 renewable energy rules and contributed to the consultation on the topic that closed before the summer break.

Our message is clear: electrification is a must to reduce Europe’s dependency on fossil fuels. Indirect electrification, meaning bringing electrons through CCU to hard-to-electrify sectors like shipping, aviation, chemistry or hard-to-abate sectors, is also essential. The EU so far is putting efforts on electrification, which is great, but has not yet found a way to do the same with indirect electrification: we urge the European Commission to promote green molecules as a priority in a post-2030 framework.

The ongoing crisis of the Straight of Hormuz is making it crystal clear: to mitigate climate change, but also to be less dependent on fossil fuels imports, Europe must accelerate its investments into renewable and low carbon energy sources, as well as non-fossil carbon feedstocks. So far, the Renewable Energy Directive is not doing enough on the latter, it’s high time to correct that situation. Our latest quantification study shows that 24% of electricity in 2050 must be directed to CCU to bring green electrons to hard-to-electrify sectors: it’s only through a fit-for-purpose legislation that such dramatic progress can be reached.

Throughout our contributions, we highlight what current EU rules have succeeded to do, and what they have failed to deliver. This update of the framework is the right time to take stock of current rules and correct course where needed. We call the Commission to move forward with three principles to drive non-fossil solutions forward:

• Create rules that are understandable and actionable
• Build further mandates for industry, transport, aviation and maritime
• Propose granular and steadily increasing targets beyond 2030

In the consultation in particular, we share specific lessons and recommendations to move forward in supporting CCU projects and adapt rules accordingly.

The final proposal for a post-2030 renewable energy framework is expected to be tabled by December 2026. We will be engaging with EU officials and sharing data and propositions that can help inform the future shaping of these rules.