S.L. 545.35 Art. 25Mainstreaming renewable energy in heating and cooling.   S.L. 545.33.

(1) In order to promote the use of renewable energy in the heating and cooling sector, the Minister shall endeavour to increase the share of renewable energy in that sector by an indicative 1.1

percentage points as an annual average calculated for the periods 2021-2025 and 2026-2030, starting from the share of renewable energy in the heating and cooling sector in 2020, expressed in terms of national share of final energy consumption and calculated in accordance with the methodology set out in regulations 7, 8 and 10, without prejudice to sub-regulations (2) to (5).

(2) For the purposes of sub-regulation (1), when calculating the share of renewable energy in the heating and cooling sector and the average annual increase in accordance with that sub-regulation, the Minister:

(a) may count waste heat and cold, subject to a limit of forty per cent (40%) of the average annual increase;

(b) where its share of renewable energy in the heating and cooling sector is above sixty per cent (60%), may count any such share as fulfilling the average annual increase; and

(c) where its share of renewable energy in the heating and cooling sector is above fifty per cent (50%) and up to sixty per cent (60%), may count any such share as fulfilling half of the average annual increase.

(3) When deciding which measures to adopt for the purposes of deploying energy from renewable sources in the heating and cooling sector, the Minister may take into account cost-effectiveness reflecting structural barriers arising from the high share of natural gas or cooling, or from a dispersed settlement structure with low population density.

(4) Where measures would result in a lower average annual increase than that referred to in sub-regulation (1), the Minister shall make it public through the inclusion within the integrated national energy and climate progress reports pursuant to Article 20 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999, and provide the Commission with reasons, including of choice of measures as referred to in sub-regulation (2).

(5) On the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria, the Minister may establish and make public a list of measures and may designate and make public the implementing entities, such as fuel suppliers, public or professional bodies, which are to contribute to the average annual increase referred to in sub-regulation (1).

(6) In order to promote the objectives laid down in sub-regulation (1), the Minister may implement, inter alia, one or more of the following options:

(a) physical incorporation of renewable energy or waste heat and cold in the energy and energy fuel supplied for heating and cooling;

(b) direct mitigation measures such as the installation of highly efficient renewable heating and cooling systems in buildings, or the use of renewable energy or waste heat and cold in industrial heating and cooling processes;

(c) indirect mitigation measures covered by tradable certificates proving compliance with the obligation laid down in sub-regulation (1) through support to indirect mitigation measures, carried out by another economic operator such as an independent renewable technology installer or energy service company providing renewable installation services;

(d) other policy measures, with an equivalent effect, to reach the average annual increase referred to in sub-regulation (1), including fiscal measures or other financial incentives.

(7) When adopting and implementing the measures referred to in sub-regulation (6), the Minister shall aim to ensure the accessibility of measures to all consumers, in particular those in low-income or vulnerable households, who would not otherwise possess sufficient up-front capital to benefit.

(8) The Minister may use the structures established under the national energy savings obligations set out in regulation 8 of the

Energy Efficiency Regulations to implement and monitor the measures referred to in sub-regulation (5).

(9) Where entities are designated under sub-regulation (5), the Minister shall ensure that the contribution by those designated entities is measurable and verifiable.

(10) Designated entities under sub-regulation (5) shall report annually to the Regulator on:

(a) the total amount of energy supplied for heating and cooling;

(b) the total amount of renewable energy supplied for heating and cooling;

(c) the amount of waste heat and cold supplied for heating and cooling;

(d) the share of renewable energy and waste heat and cold in the total amount of energy supplied for heating and cooling; and

(e) the type of renewable energy source.

(11) The Regulator shall verify the reported contributions submitted in line with sub-regulation (10) and report these to the Minister in aggregated form.