Multicriteria Assessment of Alternative Policy Scenarios for Achieving EU RES Target by 2030

Abstract

The cost-effective promotion of renewable energy sources and the support of electricity markets exert much pressure on the governments of the European Union Member States (EU MS). European institutions and national policy makers aim for the continuous improvement of energy policy portfolio in order to assist the development of Renewable Energy Sources (RES), which must be carried out effectively in a time horizon until 2030. This paper attempts to assess alternative policy scenarios suggested by legal EU instruments, focusing on the implementation of the common binding RES target of 27% in gross final energy demand in EU-wide level, included in “2030 Climate and Energy Policy Framework”. Thereupon, multicriteria method Fuzzy TOPSIS is set for quantitatively evaluating strategies, maintaining group decision-making and sharing optimally the common RES target between the MS. The best alternative proposed is undertaking “indicative national RES targets with incentives for over-commitment”. Conclusions can draw attention to committing MS towards climate resilience, urging for further support of RES electricity production.