The European Commission today awarded over €1.2 billion funding to 23 highly innovative renewable energy demonstration projects under the first call for proposals for the so-called NER300 funding programme. Projects will be co-financed with revenues obtained from the sale of 200 million emission allowances from the new entrants' reserve (NER) of the EU Emissions Trading System.

The projects cover a wide range of renewable technologies, from bioenergy (including advanced biofuels), concentrated solar power and geothermal power to wind power, ocean energy and distributed renewable management (smart grids). Once up and running, they will collectively increase annual renewable energy production in Europe by some 10 TWh, the equivalent of the annual fuel consumption of more than a million passenger cars. More importantly, the aim is to successfully demonstrate technologies that will subsequently help scale-up production from renewable sources across the EU substantially.

Connie Hedegaard said: "This year Christmas has come early - today's Decision is a major milestone in EU climate policy. The NER300 programme is in effect a 'Robin Hood' mechanism that makes polluters pay for large-scale demonstration of new low-carbon technologies. The €1.2 billion of grants – paid by the polluters - will leverage a further €2 billion of private investment in the 23 selected low-carbon demonstration projects. This will help the EU keep its frontrunner position on renewables and create jobs here and now, in the EU."

Video of the press conference

NER 300 map  

Read more:

• IP/12/1385: Climate action: Commission awards EUR 1.2 billion to kick-start 23 innovative renewable energy projects
• MEMO/12/999: Questions and Answers on the outcome of the first call for proposals under the NER300 programme  
• Draft Award Decision under the first call for proposals of the NER300 funding programme  
• Policy - NER 300
• Call for proposals - NER 300