Authors: Thomas Verheye, Joergen Henningsen (DG TREN)

Worldwide, there are several scenarios with the common goal of sustainability – in general or in the energy field. Thus ground-breaking targets along the way toward this goal are important both for renewable energy and end-use efficiency. Such targets can guide policy-makers during decision-making and send important signals to investors, entrepreneurs and the public.

There are several case studies that demonstrate how concrete targets lead to increased impacts in various fields. In the case of renewable energies, policy-makers formulate concrete policies and support measures that foster their development, and investors develop related strategies and renewable businesses as the targets convince them that their investment will yield the expected returns. There are also examples of targets for renewable energies at the sub-national, national and international levels. These targets may have been formulated for a variety of motives and by various public and private actors, such as municipalities, provinces, national governments or international organisations, or businesses at the producer or consumer end. All of these cases, however, show the relevance of setting targets.