Energy market
In the energy market, the intervention of the public regulators directed to orientate the choices about the systems of production, the distribution and the actitude of consumers is continuously increasing. The instruments that in this connection must be considered are support to different types of feedstock in consideration of local situation (carbon incentivation, for a residual part) or environmental convenience (preferencial prices for biomass, or for production of biofules and biomethane in particular).
The support can also concern the investment, as for example what has been done for farmers to sustain the realization of biogas plants, where the cost of construction can be an important obstacle to the realization of innovative interventions in the field of right disposal of agricultural wastes and production of energy in renewable form.
In the different countries there are different tariff evaluations, and different support measures, and this fact can lead to lack of homogeneity and coherence in the adopted measures, but some general trends are quite common.
Despite a growing interest in promoting renewable energy, many supports in Europe are directed to fossil fuels and nuclear sectors, expressed mainly through fiscal exemptions to support the consumption of these energy sources in well established economic sectors. On the contrary renewable support is established chiefly through surcharges on the energy bill of the end users, with a strong influence on energy prices.
For the innovation process in the renewable sector, a focus must be concentrated in the level of investment in research and development, and renewable policy design. Positive experiences in this direction have been observed in more developed European countries (Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland constitute positive examples in this direction).
It is very important to create a common language and common evaluation of the problems between the operators of the system (technologist, economists, public regulators, private investors) in order to adopt innovative policies that are oriented in the best direction in consideration of the different compulsory aspects.
The economic support, with different tools, to green energies must be carefully considered in the framework of the general energy market orientation, by considering its positive effects, and the sustainability of the chosen politics.