Representatives of companies that are building solar power plants in Slovakia protested on Wednesday, May 19, against a new decree by the Office for Regulation of Network Industries (ÚRSO) according to which the guaranteed purchase price of electrical energy generated by these sources will be decreased. "The proposed reduction is in clear contradiction with the law on support to renewable energy sources, which allows a year-on-year reduction of purchase price of energy from renewable sources by a maximum of ten percent," wrote companies active in the solar power industry in a statement, as quoted by the SITA newswire.
A revision to the decree, which sets price regulation in the sector of electrical energy, suggests a reduction in the maximum purchase price by almost €90 per MWh. The decree effective since September 2009 set the maximum price of electricity generated in a solar power plant at €430.72 per MWh. The change slashes the cap to €344.58 per MWh. The new purchase prices are to apply only to investors who decide to build a solar power plant after mid-June of this year.
The regulator stated that the price of technology required to build a solar power plant has decreased. Pavel Šimko of the company HAKO, a.s., which is active in the solar power business, says that there has been no such price decline. Approximately ten representatives of companies from the industry submitted a collective objection to the regulatory office. The regulator further proposes classifying the purchase prices into five categories, compared to the current two groups.
Source: SITA
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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