Source: European Parliament
The reference to the possibility to exclude biomass combustion and hydropower plants from the designation of renewables acceleration areas was not part of the Commission’s proposal[1]. It was added by the co-legislators during the legislative process. It should be noted that under Article 15c, paragraph 1 of the revised Directive[2], Member States are not obliged to designate renewables acceleration areas for more than one technology.
The Commission has not identified inconsistencies between Article 15b (1) and Article 16 of the revised Directive.
Small hydropower plants constitute a renewable energy source and, thus, benefit from the supporting policies and measures accelerating renewable energy development across the EU of the Renewable Energy Directive.