EU backs Czech Republic's bid for renewable energy finance 
The European Commission has cleared Czech state aid support for renewable energy installations built in the country between 2006 and 2012. It concluded that the measure would help the Czech Republic achieve its 2020 green energy targets and was in line with EU objectives and environmental guidelines. The state support included feed-in tariffs and green bonuses. The country will also invest €20m ($21m) in interconnection schemes as part of the project.

The European Commission said on November 28 that it has approved a support scheme for installations producing renewable energy built in the Czech Republic between 2006 and 2012 under EU state aid rules.

According to the Commission, in line with the applicable 2001 and 2008 Commission environmental guidelines, the support takes the form of a preferential prices (feed-in tariffs) and premiums on top of the market price (green bonuses).

The measure also incorporates a review mechanism, which ensures that installations are not overcompensated and aid is limited to the minimum necessary to achieve the scheme’s objectives.

The Czech Republic has also committed to investing around €20 million in interconnection projects.

The Commission concluded that, in line with EU objectives, the measure helps the Czech Republic to achieve its 2020 renewable energy targets. The review mechanism and interconnector investments ensure that potential distortions of competition brought about by the public financing are limited.