The measure will take effect on July 1, 2013 and will be valid until December 31, 2016.
According to the draft document, between July 2013 and end-December 2016 wind power producers will receive one green certificate for each megawatt of energy they produce, instead of two certificates currently. Hydropower producers with installed capacity not exceeding 10 MW will receive one certificate instead of three, while solar power producers will get four green certificates instead of six.
Green energy producers will recover the green certificates taken away through the new regulations starting January 2017 (in the case of solar power and hydropower producers). Wind power producers will recover certificates starting January 2018, the draft act states.
An increase in the number of units producing green energy will have a significant impact on energy bills, which would range between 60 lei (EUR13.6)/MWh and RON100/MWh in the short run. The measure is aimed at reining in energy price increases, according to the document.
Green energy producers receive a number of certificates depending on the generation technology they use and the amount of energy they produce. They sell green certificates to energy suppliers, who must ensure a certain amount of renewable energy for consumers. The number of green certificates they bought indicates whether they met their quota or not. The affair entails expenses for energy suppliers, which transfer them to beneficiaries.
As Romania has one of the most generous support schemes for renewable energy in Europe, the country has attracted significant investment in the sector. However, many industrial consumers are starting to complain about the high cost of electricity bills and are asking for measures that would limit the impact of green certificates on energy tariffs. (EUR1=RON4.4179)