Regulation (EC) No 663/2009 of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

Regulation (EC) No 663/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a programme to aid economic recovery by granting Community financial assistance to projects in the field of energy

CHAPTER IU.K. INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS

Article 1U.K.Subject matter

This Regulation establishes a financing instrument entitled the European Energy Programme for Recovery (the EEPR) for the development of projects in the field of energy in the Community which, by providing a financial stimulus, contribute to economic recovery, the security of energy supply and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

This Regulation establishes sub-programmes to advance those objectives in the fields of:

(a)

gas and electricity infrastructures;

(b)

offshore wind energy; and

(c)

carbon capture and storage.

This Regulation identifies projects to be financed under each sub-programme and lays down criteria for identifying and implementing actions to realise these projects.

Article 2U.K.Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:

(a)

‘carbon capture and storage’ means the capture of carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial installations, its transport to a storage site and its injection into a suitable underground geological formation for the purposes of permanent storage;

(b)

‘eligible costs’ has the same meaning as in Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2342/2002;

(c)

‘gas and electricity infrastructures’ means:

(i)

all high-voltage lines, excluding those of distribution networks, and submarine links, provided that this infrastructure is used for interregional or international transmission or connection;

(ii)

high-pressure gas pipelines, excluding those of distribution networks;

(iii)

underground storage facilities connected to the high-pressure gas pipelines referred to in point (ii);

(iv)

reception, storage and regasification facilities for liquefied natural gas (LNG); and

(v)

any equipment or installations essential for the infrastructure referred to in points (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) to operate properly, including protection, monitoring and control systems;

(d)

‘part of a project’ means any activity that is independent financially, technically or over time and which contributes to the completion of a project;

(e)

‘investment phase’ means the phase of a project during which construction takes place and capital costs are incurred;

(f)

‘offshore wind energy’ means the electric power generated from turbine engines powered by wind and situated in the sea, whether near or far from the shore;

(g)

‘planning phase’ means the phase of a project that precedes the investment phase, during which project implementation is prepared, and includes, where appropriate, feasibility assessment, preparatory and technical studies, obtaining licences and authorisations and incurring capital costs.

Article 3U.K.Budget

1.The financial envelope for the implementation of the EEPR for 2009 and 2010 shall be EUR 3 980 000 000, allocated as follows:

(a)gas and electricity infrastructure projects: EUR 2 365 000 000;

(b)offshore wind energy projects: EUR 565 000 000;

(c)carbon capture and storage projects: EUR 1 050 000 000.

2.Individual legal commitments implementing the budgetary commitments made in 2009 and 2010 shall be made by 31 December 2010.