Renewable Energy Association Deplores Oil Shale Subsidies
The director of the Renewable Energy Association has called for a different approach for supporting renewable energy rather than letting consumers foot the bill.
"Support is paid in the same way to all means of generating energy. The support cannot be used to develop solar energy or offshore wind farms. It just allows the cheapest and most competitive technologies to be developed," said Rene Tammist on ETV.
Tammist said the current system of subsidies is optimum and the subsidy level is medium or even lower than neighbors.
The Economic Affairs Ministry, however, wants to cut existing subsidies, and do so retroactively. The Renewable Energy Association is against the latter move, although it says it does not oppose changes to the system for new entrants.
"We are not against easing the price of energy carriers for consumers," said Tammist. "On the contrary, we have made proposals to take the expense of renewable energy subsidies off of consumers completely."
Tammist said there are many other sources of financing, such as revenue from carbon credits, 1 to 2 billion euros in the next seven years. "And structural funds as well. The European Commission has proposed to channel a certain percentage into developing renewable energy."
"These are fundamental decisions. The state today favors a pollution-centered approach. The expense of developing renewable energy has been placed on consumers while oil shale energy enjoys benefits in the form of free CO₂ allowances," he said.
Kristopher Rikken