Environmental Engineering Reference
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the top-down implementation of common, binding provisions concerning the
support of RES-E throughout the EU [ 75 ]. In practice, it refers to a single RES-E
support scheme being applied EU-wide. In contrast, Member States may remain in
charge of their national RES-E support schemes, in line with the subsidiarity
principle. 17
It is argued that harmonization brings several advantages [ 76 , 77 ]:
The internal market and the objective of its extension is a fundamental part of
the
￿
s goal to work toward its com-
pletion. It is therefore a logical step forward to create an internal market for
energy, including renewable energy. Deviations from this overarching goal
could pose not only economic, but possibly also legal challenges.
'
Acquis Communautaire
'
and it is the EU
'
A single EU-wide support scheme would lead to an optimized allocation of
resources and, thus, cost-savings. RES-E would be produced at the most optimal
places with e.g., highest solar irradiation or wind speeds.
￿
A single market would lead to more competition and innovation.
￿
￿
A larger market reduces transaction costs for RES-E investors and leads to
economies of scale, triggering additional investments in renewable energy.
￿
Harmonized European support schemes and/or targets are more effective and
easier to enforce, at least compared to national support schemes of countries
lagging behind.
However, other authors are more critical about the bene
ts of harmonization
[ 76 ], see also [ 73 , 77 ]:
Uniform support payments across Europe could lead to higher rents for those
producers which make use of least-cost technologies and sites. This could lead
to a substantial increase in target achievement related costs for society (tax
payers or consumers).
￿
Each Member State (MS) has different geographical, legal, political, and market
conditions in which RES-E support schemes operate. These contextual condi-
tions would either need to be harmonized (which is only possible to some
extent) or the remaining differences would need to be suf
￿
ciently re
ected in a
harmonized support scheme. A lack of context-speci
city could decrease the
effectiveness and ef
ciency of support.
In order to obtain public acceptance in MSs for a harmonized support scheme, a
politically accepted distribution of costs and bene
￿
ts would have to be achieved,
which is likely to pose a signi
cant challenge, given the large number of MSs
and their national preferences.
￿
Domestic energy policy and different policy interests make harmonisation dif-
cult to achieve.
17 Member States have developed their own tailor-made energy policies, which include different
goals, ambitions and preferences. Not all Member States share a comparable ambition toward
renewable energy and they are not willing to transfer the required competences to a European level
[ 76 ], p. 15.
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