Renewable Energy Sources (RES) consist of non-mineral energy resources, including, among others, wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower, as well as energy derived from biomass and biogas. Given that the production and utilization of energy from RES is a critical parameter for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the Union's contribution to the goals of the Paris Agreement, there is a steadfast dedication in European legislation to increasing the share of RES in the European energy mix.

Directive 2009/28/EC established the regulatory framework for the use of energy from renewable sources, simultaneously setting binding targets for the share of RES in national energy consumption of EU Member States by 2020. These targets led to an increase in the percentage of renewable sources in Europe's energy mix from 12.5% in 2010 to 21.8% in 2021.

The enhancement of goals within the European Energy Policy concerning the decoupling from fossil fuels and the transition to cleaner forms of energy, necessitated a revision of the Directive within the legislative package "Clean Energy for All Europeans." Consequently, Directive 2018/2001 imposes a binding EU target for an increase in the share of RES in the Union's gross final energy consumption by at least 32% by 2030.

The objectives of the European Green Deal for achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and a 55% reduction by 2030, coupled with the acceleration of the growth rate of RES in order to eliminate dependence on Russian fossil fuels under the REPowerEU plan; lead to the adoption of more ambitious targets for the percentage of RES in the European energy mix.

Therefore, the new revised Directive (EU) 2023/2431 of November 18, 2023, establishes a binding EU target to strengthen the share of RES in the final energy consumption of the Union by at least 42.5% by 2030. It concurrently includes a commitment to bolster European efforts to raise the share of renewable sources in the energy mix to 45% by 2030.