Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC defines ‘support scheme’ as: “any instrument, scheme or mechanism applied by a Member State or a group of Member States, that promotes the use of energy from renewable sources by reducing the cost of that energy, increasing the price at which it can be sold, or increasing, by means of a renewable energy obligation or otherwise, the volume of such energy purchased. This includes, but is not restricted to, investment aid, tax exemptions or reductions, tax refunds, renewable energy obligation support schemes including those using green certificates, and direct price support schemes including feed-in tariffs and premium payments.”

Article 4 of Directive 2009/28/EC (RES Directive) required Member States to submit national renewable energy action plans by 30 June 2010. These plans provide detailed roadmaps of how each Member State expects to reach its legally binding 2020 target for the share of renewable energy in their final energy consumption including support schemes of financial nature.

According to Article 22 of the Directive, by 31 December 2011, and every two years thereafter, each Member State shall submit a report to the Commission on progress in the promotion and use of energy from renewable sources. Six reports are planned with the last one expected by 31 December 2021. Among other information this report will provide details on the introduction and functioning of support schemes and other measures to promote energy from renewable sources, and any developments in the measures used with respect to those set out in the Member State’s national renewable energy action plan.

Progress reports as described in Article 22 communicated to date to the Commission are available at  the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy website.