State Aid

The European Commission has launched an investigation to assess Spain’s “environmental incentive” for coal power plants. The Commission is concerned the support has been used to meet EU environmental standards that were in any case mandatory. In 2007, Spain introduced a scheme to support the installation of new filters in existing coal plants to reduce […]

The EU Commission has approved a new joint capacity mechanism for Ireland and Northern Ireland’s energy markets. The move was judged to be able to help ensure security of electricity supply whilst preserving competition and complying with EU state aid rules. Under the capacity mechanism, power plants and other capacity providers will obtain a payment […]

The EU has approved plans for a network of refuelling and recharging stations for low emission vehicles in the Czech Republic after finding they are in line with state aid rules. It judged the €44.5 million (£40.7m) support scheme would contribute to reducing emissions without unduly distorting competition. Running over six years, the national programme […]

The European Commission has approved Danish state aid worth DKK57 million (£6.74m) to convert a cogeneration plant from coal to biomass. DONG Energy Thermal Power’s new unit in Kalundborg will supply renewable electricity to the grid, district heating to Kalundborg Forsyning and steam to the industry. The project is expected to contribute to the long […]

The EU has approved three French state aid schemes to produce more than 17GW of renewable energy. The measures to support the small scale onshore wind, solar and sewage gas installations were judged to make a worthwhile contribution to France’s 2020 target of producing 23% of its energy needs from renewables. The €1 billion-a-year (£850m) onshore wind scheme will grant support […]

The European Commission has approved state aid to support renewable energy and cogeneration power plants in Latvia built between 2007 and 2012. The nation notified its existing scheme to the Commission in 2015, which provides support to renewable operators with a levy on consumer bills. Latvia reviewed the support mechanism to ensure the beneficiaries are […]

The European Commission has given Denmark the green light to provide state aid for an offshore wind farm. It states the 600MW Kriegers Flak offshore project will help the country cut CO2 emissions in line with EU energy and climate goals, without distorting competition. In February, Denmark notified the Commission a state support measure consisting […]

The European Commission has approved Belgium’s plans to provide state aid for three nuclear power reactors. In 2014 and 2015, the nation signed two agreements with ENGIE Electrabel and EDF to extend the operational lifetime of the reactors Doel 1, Doel 2 and Tihange. Under the agreements, the companies committed to invest around €1.3 billion […]

The EU has approved a €420 million (£364.3m) Czech scheme to support combined heat and power (CHP) plants. Under the plan, operators of high efficiency CHP plants commissioned between January 2016 and December 2020 will receive a fixed premium on top of the market price of electricity. The initiative aims to support the co-generation of […]

The European Commission has approved Hungary’s financial support for the construction of two new nuclear reactors. The Hungarian Government plans to provide funding for the 2,000MW Paks II nuclear power plant, replacing the four reactors currently operating at the Paks site which were built in the 1980s. It is also backed by Russia, with the […]