Legislation to foment the use of renewable energies and solar thermal energy in building construction: The case of Spain - Solar Energy Sciences and Engineering Applications - page 645

the potentially exemplary role of the public sector by stating that this sector should
endeavour to use energy-efficiency criteria in tendering procedures for public procure-
ment. Among other measures that enhance energy performance in the residential and
tertiary sector, this directive explicitly supports policies geared to the domestic genera-
tion of renewable energy sources, whereby the amount of purchased energy is reduced
(e.g. solar thermal applications, domestic hot water and solar-assisted space heating
and cooling 5 ). Each member state should thus draw up programmes and implement
measures to improve energy efficiency 6 .
Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable
sources sets up a common framework for all EU countries with the objective of foment-
ing this type of energy. Mandatory national targets specify quotas for the overall share
of energy that must be generated from renewable sources in relation to the total energy
consumption in each country. Directive 2009/28/EC defines a series of requirements
related to the following:

• Statistical transfers between member states;

• Joint projects between EU member states and third countries;

• Administrative procedures;

• Information and training;

• Access to and operation of the grids for energy from renewable sources.

By 2020, the EU aims to achieve a 20% share of energy from renewable sources.
The year 2020 was selected as a target in order to give this sector the long-term sta-
bility needed to make reasonable and sustainable investments in renewable energies.
The objective is to reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels and foment the use of
new technologies in the energy sector (Commission of the European Communities,
2007). In 2009, energy dependence reached 53.9% (Eurostat, 2012). This situation is
even more serious in countries such as Spain where energy dependence is considerably
higher (79.4%).
In that same year, the percentage of renewable energies in relation to the total
energy consumption in the EU was 11.7% (see Graph 20.2.1). In order to achieve the
target of 20%, Directive 2009/28/EC establishes the following:

Each Member State shall adopt a national renewable energy action plan. The
national renewable energy action plans shall set out Member States' national
targets for the share of energy from renewable sources consumed in transport,
electricity and heating and cooling in 2020, taking into account the effects of other
policy measures relating to energy efficiency on final consumption of energy, and
adequate measures to be taken to achieve those national overall targets, including
cooperation between local, regional and national authorities, planned statistical
transfers or joint projects, national policies to develop existing biomass resources
and mobilise new biomass resources for different uses 7 .

5 Directive 2006/32/EC . Annex III.
6 Directive 2006/32/EC . Article 4.3.
7 Directive 2009/28/EC . Article 4.