Source: EP
The Minister of Industry, Energy and Environment of the Junta de Extremadura, José Luis Navarro, has maintained that the decision of the central government to reduce premiums, between 5 and 45 percent, to newly created photovoltaic plants, "is the right way" because the previous remuneration, set in 2007, "made these facilities so profitable that in 2008 there was an excess".
According to Navarro, in this matter "in the past some mistakes have been made" because "it is difficult when a retribution is set a priori to know if it is being correct or not."
"Given that this is paid with public money from the rates that all citizens and companies pay, we must be very demanding with the beneficiaries of these public supports," adds the counselor.
Therefore, for him "the best way is to establish a very fair rate that allows profitability in investments, but very tight," he says.
As explained by the counselor "the experience of these last three or four years in photovoltaic energy has shown that the component manufacturing industry has a great capacity to adjust costs and therefore needs a lower remuneration to achieve profitability".
Navarro understands that the fact that the decision has been taken by the Government of Spain to adjust the remuneration to these plants so that the industry in turn has to adjust its internal expenses to achieve profitability, will mean that "only the most efficient will be those who manage to make viable plants" and thus "we will be very calm that this public support for renewable energies is done with the greatest efficiency and transparency", added.
For all these reasons, the counselor says that he is "totally in agreement" with this decision because, "although an effect of slowing down investments in photovoltaics may occur in a very short period", he believes that "it will be overcome immediately" and "the industry will know how to adjust, reduce its costs and even with a much lower remuneration than there was until now, facilities will continue to be made."
WIND AND SOLAR THERMAL FARMS
Regarding the intention of the central government to also cut, from December, the premiums to wind farms and solar thermal plants by 35 percent, Navarro explained that this decree will only apply to wind farms that are already operating, and therefore will not "affect Extremadura".
Then, the counselor has claimed that the new regulation of future wind farms "is approved as soon as possible" and has even pointed out that "it must be in the first half of 2011", since it still "does not exist even in draft" and that rule "will be very important for Extremadura".
He has clarified, however, that the decree that will be approved before the end of the year to reduce remuneration to wind farms already in operation "has the goodness" that "it has been agreed with the sector of wind companies" so "it will not cause any disruption to companies," Navarro added.
REFINERY
Finally, he said that he will soon hold a meeting with the new Minister of environment, rural and marine affairs, Rosa Aguilar, to whom he will ask that the decisions of his ministry on the installation of the refinery in Los Santos de Maimona (Badajoz), "be produced with the greatest possible agility" since "the developer will complete all the documentation that has required it", has concluded.
The Minister made these statements in a meeting with the media prior to the inauguration of a conference held in Cáceres on the involvement of local administrations in the dissemination and promotion of the use of renewable energies among citizens. (EUROPA PRESS)
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