G/SCM/Q2/EU/55  
 
24 April 201 8 
(18-2539) Page: 1/6 
Committee on Subsidies  
and Countervailing Measures  
 Original: English  
 
 
SUBSIDIES  
REPLIES TO THE QUESTIONS FROM THE RUSSIAN FED ERATION1 REGARDING  
THE NEW AND FULL NOTIFICATIO N OF EUROPEAN UNION2 
The following communication, dated 23 April 201 8, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of the European Union . 
 
_______________  
 
 
1. Title of the subsidy programme, if relevant, or brief description or identification of the 
subsidy  
 
Promotion of electricity from renewable sources and of combined heat and power plants.  
 
2. Period covered by the notification. The period to be covered by the notification should be the 
most recently completed calendar or fiscal year. In the latter case, the start and end dates 
of the fiscal year should be specified  
 
The period covered by the notification includes 2011 and 2012.  
 
3. Policy objecti ve and/or purpose of the subsidy  
 
The scope of these subsidies is to increase the share of electricity from renewable sources and to 
increase the efficiency in the production of power and heat by promoting combined heat and power 
plants.  
 
4. Background and au thority for the subsidy (including identification of the legislation under 
which it is granted )  
 
The promotion of electricity from renewable sources and combined heat and power plants is 
operated by the Green Electricity Clearing and Settlement Agency (Oe MAG Abwicklungsstelle für 
Ökostrom AG). The competent public authority in this case is the Federal Ministry of Science, 
Research and Economy.  
 
The legal basis for the promotion of electricity from renewable sources is the Green Electricity Act 
(Ökostromgesetz) and the Green Electricity Act 2012 (Ökostromgesetz 2012) and for the 
combined heat and power plants the Cogeneration Act (KWK -Gesetz).  
 
The feed -in tariffs are determined through regulations (ÖSVO 2011, ÖSVO 2012 and ÖSET -VO 
2012) of the Mi nister of Science, Research and Economy for the purchase of electricity from 
renewable energy plants on the basis of contracts to whose conclusion the Clearing and Settlement 
Agency is obligated.  
 
                                                
1 G/SCM/Q2/EU/44.  
2 G/SCM/N/253/EU/Add.1 ; G/SCM/N/253/EU/Add. 2; G/SCM/N/253/EU/Add. 17; 
G/SCM/N/253/EU/Add. 14; G/SCM/N/253/EU/Add. 24; G/SCM/N/253/EU/Add. 19; G/SCM/N/253/EU/Add. 8. G/SCM/Q2/EU/55  
 
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  5. Form of the subsidy (i.e., grant, loan, tax concession, etc.) 
 
Green electricity is supported through a feed -in tariff or investment grants for hydro plants. 
The combined heat and power plants are also subsidised by investment grants.  
 
6. To whom and how the subsidy is provided (whether to producers, to exporters,  or others;  
through what mechanism; whether a fixed or fluctuating amount per unit; if the latter, how 
determined ) 
 
7. Subsidy per unit, or in cases where this is not possible, the total amount or the annual 
amount budgeted for that subsidy (indicating, if po ssible, the average subsidy per unit in the 
previous year).  Where provision of per unit subsidy information (for the year covered by the 
notification, for the previous year, or both) is n ot possible, a full explanation  
 
According to 6 and 7 : 
 
The natural o r legal persons entitled to the tariff or the investment grants are the operators of the 
energy plants.  
 
Feed-in tariff : 
 
In principle, the feed -in tariff scheme applies to all renewable energy technologies. However, the 
plant must be officially notified a s a "green electricity plant ". 
 
Plants generating electricity from wind, solid and liquid biomass, biogas or geothermal energy are 
eligible regardless of their capacities. PV installations shall exceed 5 kWp, hydro -power plants are 
eligible up to a capacit y of 2 MW.  
 
The amount of tariff is determined for each source of energy by the Minister of Science, Research 
and Economy. The tariffs are fixed each or each two years and are granted for a fixed period to 
the operators of the power plants that apply for t he aid in the respective year. But there is also a 
quota for the yearly growth of plants (cost limit). If this quota is fulfilled the plants have to wait 
until they fit in a new yearly quota.  
 
Wind 
energy  2011: €ct  9.7 per kWh  
2012: €ct  9.5 per kWh  
 
Solar 
energy  2011:  
€ct 38 per kWh  
for PV installations only on buildings with capacities over 5 kWp, up to 20 kWp  
€ct 33 per kWh  
for PV installations only on buildings with capacities over 20 kWp,  
€ct 35 per kWh  
Other PV installations with capacities over  5 kWp, up to 20 kWp  
€ct 25 per kWh  
Other PV installations with capacities over 20 kWp,  
 
2012:  
€ct 27,6 per kWh  
for PV installations only on buildings with capacities over 5 kWp, up to 20 kWp  
€ct 23 per kWh  
for PV installations only on buildings with capacities over 20 kWp,  
€ct 25 per kWh  
Other PV installations with capacities over 5 kWp, up to 20 kWp  
€ct 19 per kWh  
Other PV installations with capacities over 20 kWp,  
 
From 19/09/2012 to 31/12/2012:  
€ct 19,70 per kWh  
for PV installations only on buildings with capacities over 5 kWp, up to 500 kWp  
 
€ct 18,43 per kWh  
Other PV installations with capacities over 5 kWp, up to 500 kWp  
 G/SCM/Q2/EU/55  
 
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  Waitlist for PV 
installations  submitted tariff of 
€ct. 25/kWh  submitted tariff of  
€ct. 33/kWh  submitted tariff of 
€ct. 35/kWh  submitted tariff of 
€ct. 38/kWh  
2012 deduction of 2,5%  deduction of 5%  deduction of 6%  deduction of 7,5%  
2013 deduction of 7,5%  deduction of 10%  deduction of 11%  deduction of 12,5%  
2014 deduction of 12,5%  deduction of 15%  deduction of 16%  deduction of 17,5%  
2015 or subsequent  deduction of 17,5%  deduction of 20%  deduction of 21%  deduction of 22,5%  
 
Geothermal 
energy  2011 and 2012: €ct 7,5 per kWh  
 
Biogas  Biogas plants:   
 2011: €ct  13 - 18,5 per kWh, depending on the maximum capacity  
 2012: €ct 13 – 18,5 per kWh, depending on the maximum capacity  
 From 19/09/2012 to 31/12/2012:  
 €ct 13 – 19,6 per kWh, depending on the maximum capacity  
 Deduction of 20% for biogas from non -agricultural substratum.  
 
Sewage gas plants:  
 2011: €ct 6,00 per kWh  
 2012: €ct 6,00 per kWh  
 
Landfill gas plants:   
 2011: €ct 5.00 per kWh  
 2012: €ct 5.00 per kWh  
Hydro -power  New or revitalised hydro -power plants which have increased their efficiency 
by at least 50 %  
 From 01/01/2009 to 18/09/2012:  
€ct 3.76 – 6.23per kWh, depending on the amount of electricity fed into the 
grid. 
 
 From 19/09/2012 to 31/12/2012:  
€ct 5.00 – 10.60 per kWh, depending on the amount of electricity fed into the 
grid. 
 
Revitalised hydro -power plants which have increased their efficiency by at 
least 15 %:  
 From 01/01/2009 to 18/09/2012:  
€ct 3.29 – 5.94 per kWh, depending on the amount of electricity fed into the 
grid. 
 
 From 19/09/2012 to 31/12/2012:  
€ct 3.25 – 8.30 per kWh, depending on the amount of electricity fed into the 
grid. 
Biomass  Solid biomass:  
 2011 and 2012: €ct 10.00 – 14.98 per kWh  
According to maximum capacity  
 From 19/09/2012 to 31/12/2012: €ct 11.00 – 20.00 per kWh  
According to maximum capacity  
 Deduction from 20% to 40% for wood waste.  
 
Liquid biomass:  
 2011 and 2012: €ct 5.80 per kWh  
 
Investment grant:  
 
The construction or revitalisation of small and medium -sized hydro -power plants can be supported 
through investment grants. Revitalisat ion projects are eligible if the investment leads to an 
increase of the s tandard capacity by at least 15 %. 
 G/SCM/Q2/EU/55  
 
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   For plants with a maximum capacity of 500 kW, the amount of the investment subsidy 
shall not exceed 30% of the investment volume immediately needed for the construction 
or revitalisation of the plant, with a maximum of € 1,500 per kW.  
 For plants with a maximum capacity of 2 MW, the amount of the investment subsidy 
shall not exceed 20% of the investment volume, with a maximum of €  1,000 per kW.  
 For pla nts with a maximum capacity of 10 MW, the amount of the investment subsidy 
shall not exceed 10% of the investment volume, with a maximum of € 400 per kW.  
 For plants with a maximum capacity from 500kW to 2 MW and from 2 MW and 10  MW, 
the amount of the investment volume is calculated via linear interpolation  
 For plants with a maximum capacity from 10 MW to 20 MW, the amount of the 
investment subsidy shall no t exceed 10% of the investment volume, with a maximum of 
€ 400 per kW  
 The total of all subsidies must not exceed the maximum grant (percentage of the 
environment -related higher cost), according to the Community guidelines on state aid 
for environmental pro tection (2008/c 82/01)  
The construction or revitalisation of combined heat and power plants can also be supported 
through investment grants.  
 
In the requested period the amount of the investment subsidy shall not exceed 10% of the 
investment volume immedia tely needed for the construction or revitalisation of the plant  
 
 For plants with a minimum capacity of 2 MW and maximum capacity of 100 MW, with a 
maximum of € 100 per kW.  
 For plants with a capacity of more than 100 MW, with a maximum of € 60 per kW.  
 For plants with a capacity of more than 400 MW, with a maximum of € 40 per kW.  
 The total of all subsidies must not exceed the maximum grant (percentage of the 
environment -related higher cost), according to the Community guidelines on state aid 
for environmental  protection (2008/c 82/01).  
The support programme for the construction or revitalisation of combined heat and power plants 
expired on 30 Sept. 2012.  
 
8. Duration of the subsidy and/or any other time limits attached to it, including date of 
inception/commencem ent.  
 
Feed -in tariff:  
A given operator of a plant fuelled by solid or liquid biomass or biogas is entitled to the purchase 
of all electricity he exports to the grid and to the payment of the tariff applicable on the date on 
which the contract is concluded , for 15 years starting on the date on which the green power is 
being sold to OeMAG. A given operator of any other renewable energy plant is entitled to the 
purchase of electricity exported and to the payment of the tariff applicable on the date on which 
the contract is concluded, for 13 years starting on the date on which the green power is being sold 
to OeMAG.  
 
Investment grant:  
The investment grant shall be paid as soon as the plant has been commissioned at its full capacity 
and the final report has been  submitted and examined.  
 
 
9. Statistical data permitting an assessment of the trade effects of the subsidy. The specific 
nature and scope of such statistics is left to the judgement of the notifying Member.  To the 
extent possible, relevant and/or determinable, however, it is desirabl e that such information G/SCM/Q2/EU/55  
 
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  include statistics of production, consumption, imports and exports of the subsidized 
product(s) or sector(s) : 
 
(a) for the three most recent years for which statistics are available;  
Supported electricity from renewable sources  
2010  Green electricity  Total support 
payments  average feed -in 
tariff € ct./kwh  
small hydro plants  1.257.907.451 kWh  64.650.353,62  5,14 
other green power plants  4.646.727.876 kWh  523.129.878,92  11,26  
wind 2.018.942.087 kWh  156.668.075,76  7,76 
solid biomass  1.987.353.570 kWh  269.474.390,53  13,56  
biogas  539.467.673 kWh  75.871.019,94  14,06  
liquid biomass  30.208.424 kWh  4.154.622,57  13,75  
photovoltaics  26.293.442 kWh  13.871.426,53  52,76  
sewage and landfill gas  43.065.137 kWh  2.968.531,42  6,89 
geothermal  1.397.543 kWh  121.812,16  8,72 
total  5.904.635.327 kWh  587.780.232,54  9,95 
 
Supported electricity from renewable sources  
2011  Green electricity  total support 
payments  average feed -in 
tariff € ct./kwh  
small hydro plants  988.337.850 kWh  56.026.471,91  5,67 
other green power plants  4.463.890.345 kWh  515.371.140,57  11,55  
wind 1.882.763.974 kWh  147.015.591,93  7,81 
solid biomass  1.968.781.376 kWh  271.070.773,48  13,77  
biogas  519.766.933 kWh  73.508.055,79  14,14  
liquid biomass  11.978.754 kWh  1.598.735,77  13,35  
photovoltaics  39.422.744 kWh  19.324.520,52  49,02  
sewage and landfill gas  40.124.054 kWh  2.794.894,10  6,97 
geothermal  1.052.511 kWh  58.568,98  5,56 
total  5.452.228.195 kWh  571.397.612,48  10,48  
 
Supported electricity from renewable sources  
 
2012  Green electricity  total support 
payments  average feed -in 
tariff € Ct/kWh  
small hydro plants  1.095.400.431 kWh  57.326.983,76  5,23 
other green power plants  5.056.352.722 kWh  599.646.743,64  11,86  
wind 2.386.002.660 kWh  189.767.920,74  7,95 
solid biomass  1.982.961.370 kWh  275.643.414,20  13,90  
biogas  554.329.823 kWh  95.444.666,43  17,22  
liquid biomass  343.112 kWh  42.544,55  12,40  
photovoltaics  101.303.990 kWh  36.812.475,39  36,34  
sewage and landfill gas  30.734.427 kWh  1.902.876,71  6,19 
geothermal  677.340 kWh  32.845,61  4,85 
total  6.151.753.153 kWh  656.973.727,40  10,68  
 G/SCM/Q2/EU/55  
 
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  (b) for a previous representative year, which, where possible and meaningful, should 
be the latest year preceding the introduction of the subsidy or preceding the last 
major change in the subsidy.  
 
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