Integrating Variable Renewables in Europe : Current Status and Recent Extreme Events

In recent months, energy policy in the European Union (EU) has started to focus on the concrete actions required to ensure the realization of a functioning internal energy market in the context of high levels of renewable energy in the post-2020 period. The most important developments include the agreement by the European Council on energy and climate targets for 2030 and the launch of the Energy Union by the European Commission in February 2015. Against the political agreement already reached that the EU would reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80% by 2050, European leaders have adopted a set of interim climate change and energy targets that include, for instance - a legally binding target for a reduction in EU GHG emissions of 40% by 2030 compared to 1990 - a legally binding target of at least 27% at the EU levelfor the share of renewable energy consumed in the EU in 2030 - an indicative (nonbinding) target of at least 27% at the EU level for improving energy efficiency in 2030 compared to projections of future energy consumption based on the current criteria.