The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a Greek scheme to partially compensate energy-intensive companies for higher electricity prices resulting from indirect emission costs under the EU Emission Trading System (‘ETS').
The Greek measure
The scheme notified by Greece, with a total estimated budget of €1.36 billion, will cover part of the higher electricity prices arising from the impact of carbon prices on electricity generation costs (so-called ‘indirect emission costs') incurred between 2021 and 2030. The support measure is aimed at reducing the risk of ‘carbon leakage', where companies relocate their production to countries outside the EU with less ambitious climate policies, resulting in increased greenhouse gas emissions globally.
The measure will benefit companies active in sectors at risk of carbon leakage listed in Annex I to the Guidelines on certain State aid measures in the context of the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme post-2021 (‘ETS State aid Guidelines'). Those sectors face significant electricity costs and are particularly exposed to international competition.
The compensation will be granted to eligible companies through a partial refund of the indirect emission costs incurred in the previous year. The final payment will be made in 2031. In view of the necessary time to prepare the measure and the exceptional circumstances related to the current energy crisis, the deadline for the aid payments for year 2021 is 30 April 2023.
The maximum aid amount per beneficiary will be equal to 75 % of the indirect emission costs incurred. However, in some instances, the maximum aid amount can be higher to limit the remaining indirect emission costs incurred to 1.5 % of the company's gross value added. The aid amount is calculated based on electricity consumption efficiency benchmarks, which ensure that the beneficiaries are encouraged to save energy.
In order to qualify for compensation, beneficiaries will have to either (i) implement certain energy audit recommendations, (ii) cover at least 30% of their electricity consumption with renewable energy sources, or (iii) invest at least 50 % of the aid amount in projects leading to substantial reductions of the installation's greenhouse gas emissions. Beneficiaries will have to comply with one of those obligations within three years from the granting of the aid.
The Commission's assessment
The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, and in particular the ETS State aid Guidelines.
The Commission found that the scheme is necessary and appropriate to support energy-intensive companies to cope with the higher electricity prices and to avoid that companies relocate to countries outside the EU with less ambitious climate policies, resulting in an increase in global greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, the Commission found that the scheme complies with the requirements on energy audits and management systems set out in the ETS State aid Guidelines. It therefore supports the EU's climate and environmental objectives and the goals set in the European Green Deal. Furthermore, the Commission concluded that the aid granted is limited to the minimum necessary and will not have undue negative effects on competition and trade in the EU.
In particular, the Commission found that, based on the exceptional energy crisis-related circumstances invoked by Greece, a reasonable grace period for the aid payment for 2021 is justified.
On this basis, the Commission approved the Greek scheme under EU State aid rules.
