The Commission assessed the scheme under its 2014 Guidelines on State Aid for Environmental Protection and Energy . Under these rules Member States can grant state aid for renewable energy, subject to certain conditions. Europe should meet its ambitious energy and climate targets at the least possible cost for taxpayers and without undue distortions of competition in the Single Market.
The scheme will last until the end of 2016. All renewable energy technologies can benefit from the scheme, except solar power.
The type of support renewable energy projects can receive under the scheme depends on their size:
- large projects with more than 5 MW of installed power will compete in tenders specific for each technology;
- medium size projects with installed power between 0.5 MW and 5 MW enter a list specific for each technology, and will be prioritised subject to set criteria in order to receive support;
- projects smaller than 0.5 MW will have direct access to aid upon request.