The European Commission approved on Wednesday the granting by Romania of an aid scheme worth 3 billion euros (15.22 billion lei) in support of installations that produce onshore wind and solar energy, in order to promote the transition to a “zero net” economy , in accordance with the Industrial Plan of the Green Pact, informs a press release of the Community Executive, according to Agerpres.
The scheme was approved under the Temporary Crisis and Transitional Framework for State aid measures, adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 and amended on 20 November 2023, which was established to encourage support measures in the sectors essential for accelerating the green transition and reducing fuel dependence.
Romania notified the Commission, under the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework, of an aid scheme worth 3 billion euros (15.22 billion lei) to support installations that produce onshore wind and solar energy.
Construction and operation projects of new electricity production facilities from photovoltaic solar sources and onshore wind sources will be eligible under the measure.
The aid will be awarded through competitive bidding procedures and will take the form of a two-way contract for the difference. The exercise price will be established through the bidding procedures (“pay-as-bid”, payment corresponding to the offered price), and the reference price will be calculated as a production-weighted monthly average of the market price of electricity on the markets for the next day.
When the reference price is lower than the exercise price, the beneficiary will be entitled to receive payments equal to the difference between the two prices. Conversely, when the reference price is higher than the exercise price, the beneficiary will have to pay the difference to the Romanian authorities. Therefore, the scheme guarantees beneficiaries a minimum level of profitability and at the same time ensures that beneficiaries are not overcompensated for periods when the reference price is higher than the exercise price.
The Commission found that the aid scheme notified by Romania meets the conditions set out in the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework. More specifically, the aid will be granted through a competitive bidding procedure and will be granted before 31 December 2025. In addition, the aid must meet a number of conditions designed to limit unjustified distortions of competition and also make subject to guarantees designed to ensure that there are enough participants in the competitive bidding procedure.
The Commission concluded that the scheme notified by Romania is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to accelerate the green transition and facilitate the development of certain economic activities that are important for the implementation of the REPowerEU Plan and the Green Deal Industrial Plan, in accordance with Article 107(3) ) letter (c) of the TFEU and with the conditions provided for in the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework.
Given these considerations, the Commission approved the aid measure under EU state aid rules.