Not more than Three Months! EU to Speed up Approval Process for Renewable Energy Projects

According to reports, EU energy ministers have agreed on an interim framework valid for 18 months to speed up the licensing process and deployment of renewable energy projects. The European Council will formally adopt the regulation at the next special Energy Council.

The regulation will set a cap on the time required for permits to install photovoltaic systems，upgrade existing renewable generation facilities and deploy heat pumps. Under this framework, EU member states agree that the licensing process will not take longer than three months.

The installation of photovoltaic systems with an installed capacity of no more than 50kW, including individuals producing photovoltaics for their own use, will be deemed to have obtained a license one month after the application. However, the licenses considered will depend on the safety, stability and reliability of the grid.

The European Council has agreed to a maximum period of six months for issuing licenses for repowering renewable energy projects. If the installed capacity of renewable energy generation facilities is increased by 15% through repowering, they will be allowed to be connected to the grid within three months. In addition, the period for installing heat pumps with an installed capacity of less than 50MW is one month, while the period for ground-source heat pumps is three months.

The European Council clarified that EU member states can further shorten the period for granting permits. In addition, they agreed to allow their member states to apply faster licensing rules for ongoing license applications. The proposal follows the European Council's conclusions of 20 and 21 October 2022, which called for faster and simplified licensing procedures to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy.

Europe is facing its biggest energy crisis yet due to a ban on Russian gas imports. EU member states have also been working on developing renewable energy sources to eliminate their dependence on natural gas. In addition, the European Union has issued an order requiring all new public, commercial and residential buildings to install rooftop PV systems in stages.