EC okays EUR-200m renewables support scheme for French self-suppliers

The European Commission (EC) on Monday gave the green light to France to support a EUR-200-million (USD 230m) scheme that aims to encourage the production of renewable electricity for self-consumption until 2020.

France is allocating the above-mentioned sum for the deployment of 490 MW of additional generation capacity, specifically for companies and individuals looking to install small systems of 100 kW to 500 kW for their own use. The selected projects will get support in the form of a 10-year premium on top of the market price. The beneficiaries will be chosen through tenders organised until 2020.

The EC said in a statement that the measure will further the EU's energy and climate goals without unduly distorting competition in France. There will be no overcompensation for the beneficiaries of the public support, it has determined.

“This scheme will stimulate competition between renewable energy sources for self-suppliers and will further increase the share of renewables in France's energy mix,” commented Margrethe Vestager, commissioner in charge of competition policy.

France is pursuing a target set by the EU to increase its share of renewable energy sources in gross final energy consumption to 23% by 2020.

(EUR 1.0 = USD 1.148)

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