The 27 nations that form the EU have reached a deal to almost double the share of energy originated by renewable technologies in the next seven years. 

With this agreement, the EU aims to "fast-track the deployment of renewable energies" as part of the EU's plan "to become independent from Russian fossil fuels, after Russia's invasion of Ukraine", according to a statement from the Council of the EU. 

Following overnight negotiations, the negotiators of the European Parliament and Council agreed that the share of renewable energy in the EU's overall energy consumption will need to be 42.5 per cent by 2030 with an additional "aspirational" 2.5 per cent top-up. 

The target set in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) is below the 45 per cent requested by MEPs but above member states' preferred 40 per cent. It also constitutes a significant increase from the previous 2030 target, set at 32 per cent.

European Commission...