‘Priority dispatch’ – the rule whereby a renewable electricity produce is able to sell their electricity on the electricity market before bids are accepted from fossil fuelled plant, is being phased out. But the European Commission has proposed to exempt two categories of producers: small plants and demonstration projects. They should continue to be able to feed their electricity into the grid when they produce it, and be paid.

EUREC is happy to support this declaration accompanied by this press release asking members of the European Parliament to follow the Commission’s line.

Priority access is a “market pull” measure that efficiently complements the “technology-push” of R&D grants. Bringing new energy technology to market is risky business, and if risks to investors can be reduced, progress can be made faster. Paola Mazzucchelli, Secretary General of EUREC, said, “One risk faced by projects is their income from the sale of electricity. If this is known with greater certainty, investors gain confidence.” She added, “Because demonstration projects account for a tiny proportion of all renewable energy deployments, bending the rules for them will impact minimally on the integrity of the future electricity market.”

For further information and to join the #smallisbeautiful campaign, we invite you to consult the dedicated website created by Solar Power Europe, the leading association of this initiative.