In an open letter, ten European renewable energy associations urge MEPs to maintain priority dispatch for existing power generating installations using renewable energy sources (RES) in the recast of the current dispatching regime.
Representing the European renewable energy industry, the ten organisations, Ocean Energy Europe, Wind Europe, Solar Power Europe, European Biogas Association (EBA), European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC), Association of European Renewable Energy Research Centres (EUREC), European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), European Solar Thermal Electricity Association (ESTELA), European Biomass Association (AEBIOM) and European Renewable Energies Federation (EREF) have issued a joint open letter to emphasize three major elements that they say need to be considered by the rapporteur and the members of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) when revising the dispatching regime for renewables.
According to the Parties, the “Draft Report on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the internal market for electricity (recast)” by rapporteur Dr Krišjānis Kariņš MEP (PPE) and presented at the ITRE meeting July 10, proposes crucial changes to the current dispatching regime for generating installations using renewable energy sources (RES).
According to the Parties’ statement, the following considerations are key for maintaining investments in renewables and giving Europe a chance to fulfil its climate change targets and remain world number one in renewables.
1. Most European electricity markets are not yet fit for renewables
Electricity markets are evolving in different ways in the different Member States. The granularity of markets, the evolution towards short-term products, the level of transparency of network operation, and the overall flexibility of electricity grid systems are uneven in Europe.
Priority dispatch and priority access are critical for investors to cope with uncertainty in the context of electricity markets that are not fit for renewables because of a lack of openness and transparency.
Ignoring specific national situations, and imposing an unconditional EU-wide phase-out of priority dispatch and priority access to all generating installations would, the Parties, warn put the development of renewables at risk.
2. Market-based dispatch involves prohibitive technical and administrative burdens for households and small businesses
Operators of demonstration projects and small installations using renewable energy should not be considered as any other actor of the electricity system. Most of the small installations are owned by households. The priority dispatch and priority access regime avoids heavy technical and administrative burdens that would be prohibitive for small actors including SMEs, as assessed by the European Commission (EC) in its impact assessment.
The priority dispatch and priority access regime avoids heavy technical and administrative burdens that would be prohibitive for small actors including SMEs, as assessed by the European Commission (EC) in its impact assessment.
Demonstration projects, which are innovative technologies tested at close to market scale, must benefit from an electricity market framework providing certainty and stability. Reducing the inherent risks of such projects is also crucial for incentivizing new technologies in the sector.
The discrepancy between these burdens and the impact small installations have on the electricity system goes against consumer empowerment and innovation.
3. Retrospective changes undermine a cost-effective energy transition: Investors need to regain trust in the EU as a stable regulatory framework for renewables
The Parties maintain that it is essential that all renewable electricity projects keep the dispatching regime in place that was applicable when the investment was decided. Any regime modification impacts the business case of the projects adding uncertainty to the volumes of power to be sold, and the amount of administrative and technical burden related to the operation of such installations.
Most importantly, by imposing such a retrospective change, the EU would send a very damaging signal to investors who need legal certainty and predictability to commit to renewable energy projects in Europe. Such instability would lead to fewer investments and higher capital costs, undermining a cost-efficient transition towards a low carbon economy.
The Parties urge the European Parliament (EP) to maintain priority dispatch for existing installations, demonstration projects and small installations until EU market rules are fully transparent and effective, ensuring a true level playing field. This would ensure a progressive approach towards market-based development of renewables ensuring their growth and the fulfilment of EU objectives for 2030 and beyond.
