A recent decision reached by RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, to maintain, in 2023, a RES-supporting surcharge included in electricity bills at 17 euros per MWh was based on two key factors, firstly, calculations and projections by DAPEEP, the RES market operator, of surplus figures for the RES special account in 2023 and, secondly, high energy costs already faced by consumers.

DAPEEP’s favorable projections for the RES special account in 2023 do not raise any sustainability concerns, but RAE may still need to reassess the situation during the new year as a result of the volatility and uncertainty that have troubled the energy sector all over Europe since autumn 2021, as a result of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

RAE fears factors such as the day-ahead market’s clearing price and CO2 emission right price levels could change in the months ahead and invalidate the RES special account projections and calculations made by DAPEEP for 2023.

According to DAPEEP’s calculations, the RES-supporting ETMEAR sum is estimated to reach 572.5 million euros in 2022 and 605 million euros in 2023, based on a surcharge rate of 17 euros per MWh for both years.

Also, the operator has estimated CO2 emission right injections into the RES special account at 50.08 million euros in 2022 and 65.31 million euros in 2023.