EU 2030 Renewable Electricity Targets: Comparative Assessment of National Efforts and Cooperative Strategies

The European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive 2023/2413 raises renewable energy ambition and reinforces mechanisms for cross-border cooperation. This study assesses the implications of the revised 2030 renewable electricity targets and the potential role of cooperation. Deriving Member States’ 2030 renewable electricity targets from National Energy and Climate Plans and other policy documents, a stylised linear optimisation model of deployment is developed. A baseline scenario assumes national self-sufficiency, while alternative scenarios explore full and limited cross-border cooperation. Results indicate that cross-border cooperation in the form of statistical transfers yields substantial generation cost efficiency gains, when abstracting from system integration costs. Simultaneously, it leads to greater geographic concentration of renewable deployment. The study further identifies clusters of Member States with distinct approaches to cooperation, broadly ranging from cooperation leaders to strategic and more reluctant cooperators. As an illustrative policy exercise, the study is subject to limitations and should be interpreted accordingly.