EU energy ministers formally adopted a Council regulation establishing a temporary framework to accelerate renewable energy project deployment.
The regulation quickens permitting processes for projects with the most significant potential for rapid renewable energy deployment and the least environmental impact.
Member states will adopt plans designating “renewables go-to areas” within 30 months of the directive’s entry into force.
Land, sea, or inland waters would be chosen as renewable go-to areas because they are particularly suitable for specific renewable energy technologies and pose lower environmental risks. Protected areas, for example, should be avoided.
The Council agreed that permit-granting processes for renewable go-to areas should take at most one year for renewables projects and two years for offshore renewables projects. However, in exceptional circumstances, the period may be extended by up to six months.
The processes for repowering plants and new installations with an electrical capacity of less than 150 kW, co-located energy storage facilities, and grid connection should be limited to six months and one year for offshore wind energy projects. The period may be extended by up to three months in exceptional circumstances, such as overriding safety concerns.
Permit-granting processes should not take more than two years outside of go-to areas and three years for offshore renewables projects. In exceptional circumstances, the period may be extended by up to six months.
Member states agreed that the permit-granting process for solar equipment would not take more than three months.
“This agreement is an important addition to the ongoing work on the renewable energy directive. Faster permitting in areas that can yield the best results without harming the environment will allow us to deploy renewable energy in our grids faster. This is the best way of becoming independent of Russian energy and it will also contribute considerably to our climate goals”.
Jozef SÍKELA, Czech minister of industry and trade
