Europe wants to block UK wind farm subsidies – The Telegraph

European climate action commissioners say state aid for renewable
technologies should be phased out by the end of the decade

By James Kirkup, and Bruno Waterfield

The European Commission is to order Britain to end wind farm subsidies.

Officials have told ministers that the current level of state support for
renewable energy sources must be phased out by the end of the decade.

Taxpayer support for solar energy must also be cut, the commission will say.

The commission, which oversees the European single market, is preparing to
argue that the onshore wind and solar power industries are “mature” and
should be allowed to operate without support from taxpayers. Under the
single market rules, European Union governments are forbidden from
providing long-term “state aid” to domestic industries that can function
without support.

A Government source said European officials have privately warned ministers
that they must reduce public support for onshore wind and solar generators.

“The commission has been making pretty clear that it’s moving towards
saying that these industries are mature and state aid won’t be allowed,” he
said.

Although Conservative ministers sometimes criticise the EC for its
interference in domestic matters, they are understood to be keen to
cooperate in the case of renewable energy subsidies.

“I never thought I’d say this but the commission is absolutely right about
this,” a Conservative minister said.

“It’s absurd that taxpayers are being made to subsidise wind technology.”

The operators of onshore wind turbines get subsidies that increase the
price they are paid for the power they generate.

Wholesale energy prices are typically about £55 for a megawatt hour of
power. But onshore wind generators are paid about £90. Ministers have
started reducing those subsidies, cutting tariffs applied to household
bills and slashing guaranteed prices for onshore wind.

But pressure from the EC is expected force the Coalition to introduce a
less generous system of support for onshore wind and solar power.

That new regime, which could be in place in less than two years, will see
wind farm operators competing with each other for a share of a reduced pool
of public subsidies. Ed Davey, the Energy Secretary, said earlier this
month he was preparing to announce that onshore wind and solar farm
developers would be forced to compete to secure government subsidies.

The commission is expected to announce the results of a review of support
for renewable energy as soon as later this month.

Despite British enthusiasm for reducing subsidies, politicians in other EU
states may resist pressure to withdraw public support for renewables.

Connie Hedegaard, the EU’s climate action commissioner, said the eventual
aim was the end of state aid for wind power. “One of the things Europe has
to do better is how we subsidise renewables,” she said.

“That is why the commission is reviewing state aid guidelines for energy,
including renewables.”

“My view is that if you have mature technologies, renewables or not, they
should not have state aid. If they can manage themselves why have state aid?”

Policy Exchange, a think tank with close links to the Conservatives, has
called for steep cuts in subsidies, which would eventually reduce household
bills.