The EU’s Innovation Fund is not advancing European renewable energy technology as it puts clean power projects at a structural disadvantage, according to renewable energy associations.
Associations, including WindEurope and Ocean Energy Europe, have written to the European Commission vice president Frans Timmermans voicing their concerns that no renewable energy generation project has been selected in the first call for projects within the Innovation Fund.
They said that the lack of support for renewables is contrary to the original policy intent and undermines the REPowerEU objective of substituting fossil fuels with renewables.
In the second call, renewable energy applications have plummeted as a result of the first call, the letter said.
“This makes it highly likely that the second call will again channel funding predominantly to carbon capture and hydrogen,” it added.
It is also a “clear sign that the renewable sector has lost confidence in the fund”.
The signatories called on the European Commission to dedicate the third call only to renewable energy categories to restore confidence in the fund.
They also want future rules of calls to be adjusted so clean power can compete and also want calls to be created for intermediate-sized projects.
Other trade associations signing the letter are Solar Heat Europe, Hydropower Europe, The Association of European Renewable Energy Research Centres, European Renewable Energies Federation, European Solar Thermal Electricity Association, EGEC Geothermal and European Heat Pump Association.