State aid framework
The Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy 2014-2020 (EEAG) adopted in July 2014, introduced for the first time, a specific set of criteria for the Commission assessment of capacity mechanisms. These guidelines provided a structured framework to ensure compatibility of State aid measures in this area with EU competition law, while supporting security of electricity supply and the transition to a clean economy.
Building on this foundation, the Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy 2022 (CEEAG), adopted in January 2022, further refined the approach to capacity mechanisms, most notably through the dedicated section 4.8 regarding aid for the security of electricity supply. Section 4.8 CEEAG incorporates the main aspects of sectoral legislation on security of supply, namely the requirements of the Electricity Regulation.
In 2025 the Commission adopted the Clean Industrial Deal State aid Framework (CISAF) which introduced in section 4.3 a fast track approval process for ‘target model’ capacity mechanisms complying with a list of criteria in Annex I.
State aid cases
EEAG
- SA.35980 – United Kingdom – GB capacity mechanism-UK
- SA.38968 – Greece – Transitory electricity flexibility remuneration mechanism (FRM)
- SA.39621 – France – French country-wide capacity mechanism
- SA.40454 – France – Tender for additional capacity in Brittany
- SA.42011 – Italy – Italian capacity mechanism
- SA.42955 – Germany – German network reserve
- SA.43735 – Germany – Interruptibility scheme AbLaV
- SA.44464 – Ireland – Irish Capacity Mechanism: reliability option scheme
- SA.44465 – United Kingdom – Northern Irish Capacity Mechanism: reliability option scheme
- SA.44475 – United Kingdom – Supplementary Capacity Auction in GB
- SA.45852 – Germany – German capacity reserve
- SA.46100 – Poland – Polish capacity mechanism
- SA.48490 – France – Specific demand response tender in France
- SA.48648 – Belgium – Belgian Strategic Reserve
- SA.48780 – Greece – Prolongation of the Greek interruptibility scheme
- SA.50152 – Greece – New Greek transitory flexibility mechanism
- SA.52263 – Austria – Austrian network reserve
- SA.53821 – Italy – Modification of the Italian capacity mechanism
- SA.54915 – Belgium – Market wide capacity mechanism in Belgium
- SA.56103 – Greece – Second prolongation of the interruptibility scheme
- SA.62006 – France – Modification du soutien de l'effacement en France par appel d'offres
CEEAG
- SA.55604 – Finland – Finnish strategic reserve
- SA.104336 – Belgium – Amendments to the capacity remuneration mechanism
- SA.107352 – France – Mesure de soutien aux flexibilités décarbonées de court terme en France par appel d’offres
- SA.112459 – Estonia – Electricity Strategic Reserve
- SA.112968 – Sweden – Electricity Strategic Reserve
- SA.113090 – Austria – Austrian Electricity Network Reserve 2026
- SA.114003 – Belgium – Amendments to the approved state aid scheme SA.54915 and its amendments (SA.104336)
- SA.117564 – France – Réforme du mécanisme de capacité
- SA.44725 – Lithuania – Lithuanian PSO for security of electricity supply
- SA.45193 – Lithuania – Complaint on Lithuanian electricity PSOs
Other
- SA.44725 – Lithuania – Lithuanian PSO for security of electricity supply
- SA.45193 – Lithuania – Complaint on Lithuanian electricity PSOs
Sector inquiry
On 29 April 2015, the European Commission launched a State aid sector inquiry into national capacity mechanisms.
The European Commission on 13 April 2016 adopted its interim report for public consultation between 13 April 2016 and 6 July 2016.
The Commission adopted the final report on the results of the sector inquiry on 30 November 2016.
The Staff Working Document accompanying the final report is available in English.
The press release that accompanied the final report is available in all languages.