07/03/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 7 March, the European Commission authorised a Czech support scheme for €420 million in favour of electricity generation from high-efficiency combined heat and power plants commissioned between January 2016 and December 2020. The total budget of the scheme will be €420 million, financed jointly by a surcharge levied on electricity consumers and contributions from the Czech state budget. Under the scheme, operators of combined heat and power plants will receive a fixed premium on top of the market price for electricity. The premium will be updated on an annual basis in relation to the main cost components, to ensure that the costs to the State are kept to a minimum. The Commission recognised that the measure helps the Czech Republic to achieve its 2020 environmental and climate change objectives, in line with EU objectives, while at the same time avoiding undue distortions of competition, as the scheme will benefit a range of different market players. (EL)