The European Commission has approved a €682 million Belgian scheme to support renewable offshore wind energy to foster the transition towards a net-zero economy. The scheme was approved under the State aid Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework ('TCTF') adopted by the Commission on 9 March 2023 and amended on 20 November 2023 and on 2 May 2024.
The Belgian measure
Belgium notified to the Commission, under the TCTF, a €682 million scheme to support renewable offshore wind energy to foster the transition towards a net-zero economy.
The measure will support the construction and operation of the first offshore windfarm in the Princess Elisabeth Zone in the North Sea. The windfarm is expected to have a capacity of 700 MW and to generate at least 2,6 TWh of renewable electricity per year.
The aid will be granted on the basis of a transparent and non-discriminatory bidding process. The aid will take the form of a monthly variable premium under a two-way contract for difference ('CfD'). The price premium will be paid over a period of 20 years. This price premium will be granted for the potential electricity production of the windfarm rather than for the actual electricity production. The benefit of this capability-based design is to expose the actual electricity production to market prices as the RES producer revenues will be directly linked to its electricity sales.
The price premium will be calculated by the Belgian regulator (CREG) by comparing the strike price, determined in the tender offer of the selected beneficiary, to a reference market price for electricity. When the strike price exceeds the reference market price, the difference (price premium) is paid by the Belgian State to the beneficiary. Conversely, when the reference market price exceeds the strike price, the beneficiary will have to pay the difference to the Belgian authorities.
The Commission found that the Belgian scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the TCTF. In particular, (i) the aid will be granted on the basis of a scheme with an estimated volume and budget; (ii) the aid amount will be determined through an open, clear, transparent, and non-discriminatory competitive bidding process; and (iii) the aid will be granted before 31 December 2025.
The Commission concluded that the Belgian scheme is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to accelerate the green transition and facilitate the development of certain economic activities, which are of importance for the implementation of the Green Deal Industrial Plan, in line with Article 107(3)(c) Treaty on the Functioning of the EU and the conditions set out in the TCTF.
On this basis, the Commission approved the aid measure under EU State aid rules.
Background
On 9 March 2023, the Commission adopted the TCTF to foster support measures in sectors which are key for the transition to a net-zero economy, in line with the Green Deal Industrial Plan.
The TCTF provides for the following types of aid, which can be granted by Member States until 31 December 2025 in order to accelerate the green transition:
- Measures accelerating the rollout of renewable energy (section 2.5). Member States can set up schemes for investments in all renewable energy sources, with simplified tender procedures.
- Measures facilitating the decarbonisation of industrial processes (section 2.6). Member States can support investments in the decarbonisation of industrial activities with a view to reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels, in particular through electrification, energy efficiency and the switch to the use of renewable and electricity-based hydrogen which complies with certain conditions, with expanded possibilities to support the decarbonisation of industrial processes switching to hydrogen-derived fuels.
- Measures to further accelerate investments in key sectors for the transition towards a net-zero economy (section 2.8). Member States can grant investment support for the manufacturing of strategic equipment (namely batteries, solar panels, wind turbines, heat-pumps, electrolysers and carbon capture usage and storage), as well as for production of key components and for production and recycling of related critical raw materials. Support is capped at a certain percentage of the investment costs up to specific amounts, depending on the location of the investment and the size of the beneficiary. Higher support is possible for small and medium-sized companies, as well as companies located in disadvantaged regions to ensure that cohesion objectives are duly taken into account. Furthermore, in exceptional cases, Member States may provide higher support to individual companies, where there is a real risk of investments being diverted away from Europe, subject to a number of safeguards.
