Political and legal features of the activities in the field of renewable energy sources in Iceland

Abstract

The article discloses the features of renewable energy sources; the role and the meaning of the fundamental regulation of the renewable energy in Iceland. The relevance of using renewable energy as one of the safest for the environment, natural resources, health and life of population is being clarified in the article. The choice of Icelandic legislation in the area is based on the fact that: firstly, currently about 85 % of all primary energy in Iceland is provided by renewable sources, secondly, legislative base is created in the field of implementation of renewable energy sources and so on. The author examines some of the political issues of development of renewable energy in Iceland: The Icelandic National Renewable Energy Action Plan for the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources in accordance with Directive 2009/28/EC and the Commission Decision of 30 June 2009 on a template for the national renewable energy action plans. Basic regulations are investigated in the article, for instance, Act on Landsvirkjun No. 42/1983, Act on the guarantee of origin of electricity produced from renewable energy sources, etc. No. 30/2008, Law on the Establishment of Landsnet hf. No. 75/2004, Electricity Act No. 65/2003. The article underlines the role of government agencies in the development of renewable energy in Iceland: Ministry of Industry and Innovation, The National Energy Authority (NEA).