The EC has approved a €78 million aid scheme for Slovenia for energy-intensive companies

At the end of February, the European Commission approved Slovenia’s €78 million state aid scheme to partially compensate energy-intensive companies for high electricity prices caused by carbon costs under the ETS. This was reported by SeeNews.

The scheme applies to companies in certain sectors that are particularly energy-intensive and exposed to international competition, such as ferrous metallurgy, aluminum and other metal production, paper, and chemical industries.

Compensation will be provided for up to 75% of indirect emission costs incurred between 2025 and 2027.

Payments will be made in 2027, with the final payment scheduled for 2028 for costs incurred in the previous year.

To encourage energy saving, the calculation of aid will use electricity consumption efficiency benchmarks that reward the most efficient production processes.

To be eligible for compensation, companies will have to prove that they cover at least 30% of their electricity consumption from carbon-free sources. In addition, beneficiaries must use the aid to invest in climate protection measures within two years of receiving the last payment.

It should be recalled that at the end of February, the European Commission approved a €1.1 billion state aid scheme for France to support strategic investments that add clean technology production capacity. It will be provided in the form of a tax credit.

The French scheme encourages investment in the production of additional zero-emission capacity using technologies such as solar, offshore or onshore wind, as well as heat pumps or storage technologies. It covers costs related to the main specific components of these technologies and critical raw materials.