Estonia is investing 23 million euros from sales of AAU-s into wind energy
EWPA's blog - praktikant August 2, 2010
Estonia is selling unused AAUs (Assigned Amount Units) to Spain and directing the proceeds into wind energy, which will increase the wind energy capacity in Estonia by approximately 25-30 MW. These wind farms will not receive renewable energy subsidies.
Jaanus Tamkivi, the Estonian Minister of Environment, said at the government press conference on the 29th of July that there are no renewable energy subsidies planned for the new wind farms. “This investment will not require any additional money from the consumers. The renewable energy subsidies have become infamous for their large amounts, but this is not relevant in the case of these new wind farms. Consumers’ paying more for electricity due to this investment is out of the question and therefore these objects will not get any renewable energy subsidies,” confirmed Tamkivi.
By a decree of the Minister of Economy and Communication, the financial support for the new wind farms will be issued by SA Keskonnauuringute Keskus (Center of Environmental Research Foundation). The application round will be announced in August and it will admit new projects that do not receive tariff subsidies. This investment will decrease the CO2 emissions of Estonian energy production by 1.5 million tons in the next 20 years.