Non-compliance of the Zabalgarbi incineration plant with EU renewable energy legislation

16.10.2017

Question for written answer E-006500-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Josu Juaristi Abaunz (GUE/NGL)

The Zabalgarbi incineration plant located in Bilbao (Basque Country) is in breach of Directive 2009/28/EC, as it receives feed-in tariffs for all the electricity it generates, even though only a fraction of this is produced from renewable energy sources.

According to Article 2(a) of Directive 2009/28/EC, the term ‘energy from renewable sources’ covers, among other things, ‘biomass’. Article 2(e) defines ‘biomass’ as the biodegradable fraction of products, waste and residues from biological origin from agriculture (including vegetal and animal substances), forestry and related industries including fisheries and aquaculture, as well as the biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal waste’.

Zabalgarbi is integrated with a combined cycle unit, generating most of its energy from natural gas and some from waste. Electricity generated from waste represents less than 40%, half of which is of renewable origin (biodegradable fraction)[1].

Although only about 20% of the electricity generated is of renewable origin — biodegradable fraction of waste — all the electricity generated by the Zabalgarbi plant receives feed-in tariffs, as if it were all from renewable energy sources.

1. In the light of the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive, does the Commission believe that electricity coming from fossil sources, such as the fossil part of waste (e.g. plastics) and natural gas, is eligible for a support scheme for renewable energy?

2. In the light of the information available, how will the Commission ensure that directive 2009/28/EC is applied correctly in this instance?

3. Will the Commission investigate this matter?

• [1] https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0SaLVoEY54ZTlhFNURhTFJYMkk