The European Commission on Wednesday announced that it has ruled that a new Greek support scheme for renewable electricity and high efficiency cogeneration complies with EU state aid rules. The scheme will help Greece to reduce CO2 emissions, in line with EU energy and climate goals, without unduly distorting competition, a Commission statement in Brussels read.
The European Commission on Wednesday announced that it has ruled that a new Greek support scheme for renewable electricity and high efficiency cogeneration complies with EU state aid rules. The scheme will help Greece to reduce CO2 emissions, in line with EU energy and climate goals, without unduly distorting competition, a Commission statement in Brussels read.
The press release read:
“In July 2016 Greece notified plans to support electricity from renewable energy sources and high-efficiency cogeneration. The Commission found that the Greek scheme promotes the integration of such electricity into the market, in line with the Commission's 2014 Guidelines on State Aid for Environmental Protection and Energy. The Commission concluded that the scheme was likely to increase the proportion of green electricity and reduce pollution, while limiting distortions of competition due to the state support. The scheme will help Greece to meet its 2020 target of producing 18% of its energy needs from renewable sources.
The scheme includes state support either through a feed-in tariff or through a price premium in line with the Guidelines. Support with a feed-in tariff will be limited to small installations and installations on non-interconnected islands. Installations with a capacity above 500 kilowatt (KW) will, over a period of 20 to 25 years, receive a premium on top of the market price of electricity. Greece has demonstrated that the aid is limited in line with the Guidelines. This will minimise potential distortions of competition created by the public funding.”