Yesterday evening, EU Energy Ministers agreed on the EU Council negotiating position on Electricity Market Design. This position will be the basis for negotiation with the other EU co-legislators. SolarPower Europe has issued the following statement:
Arthur Daemers, Policy Advisor at SolarPower Europe (he/him):
“Ministers made a big step yesterday; this deal brings us that much closer to a final text. A rapid conclusion of the file is absolutely necessary to deliver legal certainty to invest in new renewables, and reach our climate and energy targets."
“There’s room for improvement for this deal as it goes through negotiations. The text prolongs the status quo on market caps, leaving room for a Frankenstein-like patchwork of national measures – Bulgaria and Greece just prolonged their cap. This is discouraging investments at a time when we need them most. Co-legislators must clarify that emergency measures must remain for emergency."
“We’re also concerned about the Council’s position on capacity renumeration mechanisms, which gives a free pass to coal power plants. We hope the final text will award better signals to clean flexibility options, which need to go hand-in-hand with renewable electrification.”
“On the bright side, the Council compromise on contracts for difference gives hope ahead of the trilogues. The Ministers have recognised that renewables should now be able to look forward, instead of worrying about the survival of its existing projects. Under this wording, project developers will not be forced into a CfD applied retroactively on an existing plant. The final text must make it very clear that CfDs must remain voluntary, competitive, and apply only to new investments.”
Questions? Get in touch.
Bethany Meban
Head of Press and Policy Communications
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