Internet database on legislation on renewable energy generation in EU member states

The Federal Environment Ministry (BMU) websites www.res-legal.de and www.res-legal.eu offer a free internet database "legal sources on renewable energy" (RES LEGAL).

It facilitates research into key legislation on support for electricity from renewables and on grid issues in 25 EU countries. The database also gives detailed information regarding provisions on individual generation technologies such as wind, solar, geothermal energy, biomass and hydropower. It is the only database of its kind in Europe, and provides a fast and well-founded introduction to this complex field. RES LEGAL evaluates existing laws, which are included in the database in the original language and, where available, in English.

RES LEGAL has a uniform information structure for each of the 25 countries it covers. The data in the two fields "support schemes" and "grid issues" are divided into three sub-sections: "overview of the legal framework", "overview of support system" / "overview of grid access", and a third sub-section giving details on support measures and on regulations governing grid connection, use and expansion.

Users can choose between three search options: They can research specific information via a search assistant, by using a full text search or according to country. Supplementary details and further links round off this comprehensive database, which is regularly updated.

• Press release as of 02.10.2008: Internet database on renewable energy law in the EU now available in English