POLICY INSTRUMENTS FOR SUPPORTING RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES IN SLOVAK REPUBLIC

In January 2008, the EU published a document which declared its targets on renewable energy use. On its basis, EU committed to achieve 20% share of renewable energy sources on final energy consumption and 10% of biofuels in transport by 2020. In Slovak republic up to 35% of the technically disposable renewable energy potential falls to biomass. Biomass is a potential energy source for heat, electricity, and biogas and biofuels production. For a broader utilization of this renewable energy source it is necessary to create appropriate technological, legislative and economic conditions. One of the options is state support. This article deals with state policy instruments supporting renewable energy sources use implemented in Slovak republic. The aim is to describe the current state of state support, then to analyse the benefits and shortcomings of individual instruments as well as the whole state support system. Regarding fiscal instruments, mainly income taxes and selective consumption taxes were analysed. The non-fiscal instruments analysed were mainly direct financial support for production and biomass use for energy purposes and relevant legislation.