State Aid: Commission Approves Three Support Measures for Renewable Energy in Denmark

The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules three schemes to support electricity production from wind and solar in Denmark in 2018 and 2019. Denmark has a goal of supplying 50% of its energy consumption from renewable energy sources by 2030 and to become independent from fossil fuels by 2050. In line with this goal, the Danish authorities will implement three measures supporting renewable energy: A multi-technology tender scheme for onshore and offshore wind turbines and solar installations, with a budget of DKK 842 million (€112 million). The beneficiaries of the aid will be selected through two tenders organised in 2018 and 2019, with the different technologies competing with each other. The selected installations will offer their electricity on the market and receive support in the form of a premium on top of the market price (top-up payment).

City of London Corporation Sets Sights on Ten-Fold On-Site Generation Boost

The City of London Corporation is to deploy solar panels on a number of its buildings under plans that will see the governing body of the Square Mile source 100% renewable electricity from October 2018 onwards.

Members of its Policy and Resources Committee backed proposals to generate electricity on sites it owns across London, as well as invest in off-site renewables generation and purchase clean energy from the market.

European Commission Approves French Support Schemes for 2.6GW of Solar

The European Commission has approved French plans to develop 2.6GW of small and large-scale solar and 60MW of hydropower.

The Commission endorsed two separate solar schemes, which have a provisional budget of €8.8 billion (US$9.4 billion) over 20 years.

One scheme helps pay the feed-in tariff (FiT) subsidy to operators of small-scale solar installations (<100kW) on domestic and commercial rooftops. This will account for roughly 1.5GW installations.

SolarPower Europe Outlines Key Conditions for Fostering Solar Storage

SolarPower Europe (SPE) has published 10 policy priorities geared at facilitating expansion of solar power and energy storage within the European market.

Targeting both front-of-meter and behind-the-meter contexts, the priorities concern matters of definition, market design, and remuneration.

SPE hopes its recommendations will resonate with the European Commission as it finalizes preparation of future energy legislation for the European Union.

EC Approves Amendments to German Renewable Energy Law

The European Commission (EC) has found that Germany’s plans to support renewables through auctions are in line with EU state aid rules.

Germany introduced amendments to its clean energy bill in July this year, in order to generalize the use of tenders to support projects.

As of next January, subsidies will mainly be granted via competitive tenders.

The commission said the move will promote the steady deployment of renewable energy whilst maintaining competition in the German energy market.