Financial help focuses on energy projects
Novem and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Subsidy and Technology advisors, have recently published a European financial guide for renewable energy projects. The guide, which focuses particularly on biomass, is intended to help navigate the large number of financial regulations currently available to stimulate bioenergy and other renewable energy initiatives. These measures include subsidies, advantageous tax-rates and low-interest loans. They have been set up to promote renewable energy production, which is often more expensive than traditional energy production. The financial assistance provides tangible evidence of a recognition of the key role that renewable energy plays in the sustainable development targets of the European Union (EU) and its Member States. To assist project developers, the European Financial Resources Guide provides a clear, easily accessible overview of the incentives currently available for renewable energy initiatives. The guide is also intended to assist project developers to improve the economic feasibility of their initiatives. The guide includes financial incentives offered by the European Commission, national governments and regional authorities. It also provides details of funds offered by banks and other financial institutions. The means of financial support detailed in the guide include: - Investment subsidies; - Fiscal incentives; - Feed-in regulations; - Exemption from taxes; - Set-aside arrangements for the cultivation of energy crops; - Third-party financing and company participation; - Low-interest loans from both public and private funds; - Addresses of banks, venture-capital funds and other organizations providing funds for renewable energy projects. The guide was made on behalf of the European Commission, Directorate General for Energy, DG XVII, and financed within the framework of the Altener programme.