EC adopts new and updated renewable energy permitting, auction guidance

Two years after adoption of the REPowerEU Plan, the European Commission has provided a series of new and updated recommendations to streamline permitting procedures and auctions for renewables.

Both REPowerEU and the European Green Deal were formulated to boost renewables and make imports of Russian fuels obsolete. Linked to this is the recently revised Renewable Energy Directive, which aims for a 45% share of renewables in the energy mix by 2030, with a legally binding minimum target of 42.5%.

"The updated permitting guidance provides examples of good practice on faster and simpler permit-granting procedures, highlights the importance of digitalisation and community participation, human resources and skills; and outlines how to best handle site selection procedures and network connections," the commission said May 13.

The EC has also adopted new guidance on selecting and designating renewables' acceleration areas.

These are locations where projects are not expected to have significant environmental impacts and can be fast-tracked.

"Key elements for selecting such areas are the availability of digital tools for planning and mapping," the commission said.

Meanwhile, auction design advice from the EC seeks to promote "non-price criteria" in renewable energy tenders to boost "higher value-added projects" that support Europe's own net zero technology manufacturing base.

"This will ensure that the clean energy transition goes hand in hand with a strong industrial base in Europe," it said.

Finally, the EC has updated its Union Renewables Development Platform, where Member States publish basic information about their auction schedules.