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The Government of Slovenia will pay municipalities EUR 200,000 per MW of installed wind farm capacity if they allow the construction on their territory. The one-time fee is aimed at encouraging local authorities to support the installation of wind turbines, according to the announcement.
The incentives are another attempt at speeding up the development of wind farm projects in Slovenia, which, as Minister for the Environment, Climate and Energy Bojan Kumer said, lags behind in the use of solar and wind energy. There are only three wind turbines in the entire country.
Slovenia set in motion the procedures for the construction of its first wind farms in October 2019. So far the government has approved national zoning plans for three projects – Ojstrica, Paški Kozjak, and Rogatec, with an installed capacity of 46 MW. However, the implementation is slow.
A municipality can use the funds only for certain purposes
Now the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy has opened a public consultation on the draft regulation envisaging a one-time fee for municipalities to encourage the construction of wind farms.
The regulation was prepared on the basis of the Law on the Introduction of Devices for the Production of Electricity from Renewable Energy Sources, the ministry announced.
In line with article 71 of the law, the government can determine a one-time fee to a municipality hosting a new wind power plant, to encourage their construction. The government defines the amount and details of the payment.
The base amount depends on the facility’s capacity: EUR 200,000 per MW, the ministry said.
The fees would be awarded for all projects with a capacity of at least 1 MW.
The fee is paid after the wind farm is connected to the grid
Before payment, the wind farm must be put into operation.
The local authority can use the funds for investments and measures to improve the living conditions and quality of life of the local population, but only for the issues related to the impacts of the wind farms.
The public consultation ends on December 23.
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