Brussels, 10/04/2015 (Agence Europe) - On 10 April, the European Commission gave the go-ahead to changes to a Dutch public aid scheme for the production of electricity, gas and heating from renewable sources.
The scheme is expected to make an important contribution to the decarbonisation of the economy. The Dutch scheme, Stimulering Duurzame Energieproductie (SDE+), is based on a competitive bidding process among all forms of renewable energy to determine the level of the premiums that will be paid to the beneficiaries. The scheme has been expanded to include support for the co-firing of biomass, and now includes a separate bidding process for electricity produced from offshore wind. Moreover, from 1 January 2016, no subsidies will be paid for periods in which the wholesale price is negative.
The SDE+ will be financed through an increased energy tax paid by consumers. The Commission assessed the measure under its April 2014 Guidelines for Environmental and Energy Aid and found that the measure supports renewable energy without creating an uneven playing field. (Mathieu Bion)