From 2017, the EU Commission will require that competitive tenders for renewable energy subsidies replace incentives previously set by the state. At the same time, a number of questions remain open regarding tenders for renewable energies – including the fundamental question of whether it makes sense to apply this rule to all technologies, or whether exception clauses provided in EU state aid rules could at least partially apply. The background paper addresses the most critical issues for tenders and reveals points that should be considered in the European debate and that require more in-depth evaluation.