Grid distributor Elering paid out EUR 8 million in renewable energy support and high-efficiency cogeneration support in July to several generators and other companies.
Enefit Green, renewable energy subsidiary of state-owned Eesti Energia group, received EUR 440,900 and its subsidiary Enefit Wind got over EUR 1.7 million in renewable energy subsidies over the month of July.
Elering paid Utilitas Tallinna Elektrijaam EUR 1.56 million.
Combined heat and power (CHP) generating companies Imavere Energia, Helme Energia and Osula Energia, of the Graanul Invest group, together received EUR 838,300 in renewable energy support through the month.
Fortum Eesti, the holding company of Fortum Power, and Finnish energy group Heat OY received EUR 801,000.
Renewable energy support and high-efficiency cogeneration support are classified as state aid.
Other major recipients of the subsidy included the Tooma, Tapa, Tamsalu, Someru, Saku, Rakvere, Puurmani, Pajusti, Kardla, Kuusalu, Kuivajoe, Kajamaa and Anija subsidiaries of regional solar power parks developer Footonvolt, which received EUR 237,700 in subsidies in total.
In doling out renewable energy subsidies, Elering acts as a middle man, collecting renewable energy fees from consumers via network companies and paying this as subsidy to electricity plants producing electricity from renewable sources.
The 2018 renewable energy charge was EUR 0.89 per KwH, rising to EUR 1.04 per KwH for 2019. (ERR/Business World Magazine)