The template for National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPS) is expected to guide European Commission member countries in drawing up their renewable energy strategies.

Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs said “With the binding targets for the share of renewable energy in 2020 the EU has taken a major step towards creating certainty for investors in green renewable energy technologies. While National Action Plans will further contribute to a stable investment climate, the template that the Commission adopted today will help Member States produce a credible plan which in turn will help the EU to meet its targets on time”

The templates are expected to help EC members set out a detailed estimation of their individual renewable energy contribution, their long term renewable action intentions and policies.

Completion of the template is a requirement of the recent Renewable Energy Directive which sets a mandatory national target for each Member State with the aim of achieving a 20% share of renewable energy in Europe’s final energy consumption by 2020. There is an obligation on each member state to submit a NREAP to the EC by 30th June 2010.