Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) voted in favour of reducing from 12 to 9 months the maximum time limit for authorising new renewable energy production facilities if they are located in “renewable energy fast track” areas, on Monday 14 November, in a voting session on a draft report submitted by MEP Markus Pieper (EPP, German).
Adopted by a large majority (49 votes in favour, three against and eight abstentions), this draft report concerns the part of the Commission’s ‘REPowerEU’ plan which consists of amending certain parts of the Renewable Energy Directives (RED II - 2018/2001), on the energy performance of buildings (EPBD - 2010/31) and on energy efficiency (2012/27) (see EUROPE 12955/4).
In particular, it will retain the Commission’s proposal to define ‘renewable energy deployment areas’, but rename them ‘renewable energy fast-track areas’. These areas should be delimited by each Member State according to their potential.
If the competent licensing authority does not respond within nine months of the renewable energy project developer submitting the application, MEPs ask that the application be deemed accepted (‘positive silence’).
For projects outside renewable energy fast-track areas, the report foresees limiting the authorisation process to 18 months, compared to the two years foreseen in the Commission’s initial proposal presented on 18 May (see EUROPE 12949/2).
These fast-track procedures would also apply to storage projects, grid connection and the integration of renewable energy into heating and cooling networks.
Renewal of existing facilities
For projects involving the renewal of existing renewable energy installations (‘repowering’), MEPs want the permitting process to last no longer than six months in renewable energy fast-track areas and one year outside them.
Focus on solar energy
For the installation of solar energy equipment on buildings, the report sets the maximum time limit for authorisation at three months while providing for an exemption from the environmental impact assessment requirement. MEPs also believe that a simple notification procedure should be sufficient for small-scale projects (below 50 kW).
The vote of the whole Parliament will probably take place during the plenary session of 12-15 December.
It should be noted that in addition to its proposal dated 18 May, the Commission recently unveiled emergency measures to accelerate the deployment of renewables in the face of the energy crisis, in a proposal for an EU Council Regulation (see EUROPE 13060/7). (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)