LONDON (Bywire News) - The EU is thought to be considering allowing some renewable energy projects to receive permits within a year, according to a draft document. The move comes as the bloc attempts to accelerate the transition to renewables to break its dependence on Russian oil.
Next week, Brussels plans to unveil a package of measures to boost renewable energy, save energy and increase gas imports elsewhere. This will include new proposals requiring countries to designate certain ‘go to areas’ of land or sea which are suitable for renewable energy production. In such cases, permits could be granted within a year with a three-month extension in ‘extraordinary circumstances'.
A year in itself hardly feels lightning-quick, but it’s a whole lot better than the EU’s current two-year deadline for permitting such schemes. Even then, this can be extended by a year in some situations. All projects outside the so-called go-to areas will stick to this timeline.
The move suggests the bloc is making long-overdue efforts to accelerate the approval process for renewable projects. These often face longer delays than average due to red tape, local opposition or concerns about protecting endangered species. Projects in Greece, for example, can take a whopping eight years to gain approval. These delays have heightened concerns that the EU will struggle to meet its own ambitious climate change goals.
“Renewable energy sources are crucial to fight climate change, reduce energy prices, decrease the Union's dependence on fossil fuels and ensure the Union's security of supply,” the document said.
Allowing the building of renewable projects will be labeled as being in the ‘overriding public interest’ enabling a simple assessment process. However, EU citizens would still have the right to participate in a discussion process over any proposals.
In general, these go-to areas will be in locations which will have less of an environmental impact. It will avoid protected sites or bird migration routes and focus on areas such as build-up areas, industrial sites, and the public land around them. The areas would still need an environmental assessment, but individual projects within them would not, unless they significantly affect the environment in another EU country.
The gears, then, are finally beginning to move on removing red tape obstacles to renewable energies. It’s just a little curious that it took the war with Russia rather than impending climate catastrophe, to persuade the powers that be to up their game.
(writing by Tom Cropper; Editing by Cleo Celeste)