Under article 63 ff. of the “Besondere Ausgleichsregelung” (BesAR) – the special compensation rule of the EEG 2014 (renewable energy law 2014) – certain energy intensive companies may apply for a restriction of costs of the EEG apportionment, in order to sustain their international competitive position.
Due to an increased number excemptions and the opening of EU proceedings against this rule in 2013, the DIW, FÖS und Arepo suggested a reform of the BesAR, concerning companies in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). Moreover, Arepo provided ad hoc consulting services to the Environmental Ministry of NRW concerning, among others, an alternative list of industries with alternative rules for exemption and an analysis of the impacts of the reform after the EU proceedings of the BesAR on companies in NRW.