Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg have urged the European Union to set a 2040 target for expanding renewable energy, in a letter seen by Reuters on Tuesday, sparking a clash with other EU countries that want the target to include nuclear power.
The European Commission is preparing a series of new EU energy policies to guide the bloc's energy strategy beyond 2030. The EU aims to increase the share of renewable sources in its total energy consumption to 42.5% by 2030, but currently has no target for 2040.
"Investors need clear signals," Spanish Energy Minister Sara Aagesen told reporters on Tuesday, explaining why Spain wants to set a renewable energy target.
The three countries stated in the letter addressed to the European Commissioner for Energy, Dan Jorgensen , dated September 25 and seen by Reuters: "Renewable energies are proven and competitive solutions that can be implemented in the EU on a large scale and in a timely manner."
Regarding the impact of the war with Iran, the statement said: “A high dependence on fossil fuels places our economies and citizens in a vulnerable position. Due to geopolitical uncertainties, and as demonstrated by the consequences of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, we must act swiftly to reduce these dependencies.”
However, their proposal creates conflict with other EU governments, which want a broader "clean energy" target that includes nuclear power, an energy source that nations such as France and Sweden have championed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuel imports.
"We must certainly consider nuclear energy as part of the solution," Finland's Climate Minister Sari Multala told reporters at a meeting of EU energy ministers on Tuesday.
The EU has no targets for expanding nuclear energy because some member states, such as Austria and Luxembourg, strongly oppose this energy source, citing concerns about safety and nuclear waste.
As EU consumers grapple with rising energy and fuel prices due to the US-Israeli and Iran trade war, Aagesen said Spain and five other countries have asked the EU to consider measures to capture the windfall profits companies are making from high energy prices.