EU intending one-year renewable permits in 'go-to locations' as it steps up change preparation

• The European Commission (EC) intends to accelerate the permitting procedure for renewable energy projects to a maximum of one year, Reuters reported the other day, referencing a leaked draft document it had seen.

The news service stated the draft regulation revealed the block was thinking about brand-new rules that would need member states to demarcate "go-to locations" of land or sea for renewable release, seeing the roll out of renewable resource as remaining in the "overriding public interest".

The European Union (EU) had actually formerly specified its intention to simplify the permitting procedure as part of a new renewables strategy following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with a host of profession bodies and also business calling for reform to the system in order to unlock renewable release.

Reuters priced quote the leaked document as saying, "the permit-granting procedure for new projects located in renewables go-to locations shall not exceed one year", with the possibility to prolong this by three months in "extraordinary situations".

Currently, the EU has a two-year permitting target, which can additionally be extended by an extra year. This timeframe will certainly still apply to all projects outside the mooted "go-to locations", the draft file stated.

The "go-to areas" would certainly be possible project sites with a low ecological impact, away from existing safeguarded websites or animal movement routes as well as would certainly prioritise areas like roofs, roads, railways, industrial websites as well as public land around them.

People would still have the right to object and take part in the decision making procedure however projects in the areas would no longer be subject to environmental impact assessments (EIA) unless they pose a substantial environmental danger, although the wider "go-to area" would certainly still call for an overarching EIA.

"Renewable energy sources are crucial to combat environment change, lower power rates, reduce the Union's dependence on fossil fuels and also ensure the Union's safety of supply," the file said.

Reform to the permitting system was an essential part of a checklist of eight activities from SolarPower Europe targeted at aiding Europe speed up solar implementation to reach a complete capacity of 1TW by 2030 and also decrease its reliance on Russian fossil fuel imports.

At the end of March, at an event hosted by PV Tech author Solar Media, solar players asked for efforts to increase renewables implementation, with one claiming the battle in Ukraine means Europe's Suitable for 55 energy plan could be "included the bin" as well as requiring a radical reform of the entire system.

On the other hand, the European Union must establish greater solar PV implementation targets and also accelerate the power shift to terminate its energy dependence on Russia as soon as possible, according to 5 participant states of the bloc.