New Green Energy Support Act passed

The state will no longer automatically pay a lump-sum premium for renewable energy according to a major amendment to the Act on Support of Renewable Energy Sources passed by Parliament. The draft says that the electricity produced from renewables will be supported only through auctions. The rights of existing producers would be preserved, but support would be limited for new installations. For new bigger facilities with an installed capacity of over 500 kilowatts, new rules will introduce an auction where the state will choose a facility for the production of electricity from renewable sources it would support. The final price will be the result of a competition. The current setting of the support system will be replaced by centralization through a single buyer. A single clearing agent will also be established. The Economy Ministry has decided to introduce a rebate for energy-intensive businesses in the amendment. This is supposed to reduce their electricity costs. It is estimated that this should concern about 200 enterprises. Compensations should amount to about €80 million annually from the state budget.