Energy industry association lays out proposals to speed up permit processes
Clean Energy Wire
Citing the broad consensus on the need to accelerate planning and approval processes for energy transition projects in Germany, the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) has analysed what it calls the biggest stumbling blocks in the restructuring of the country’s energy system. It has laid out 25 proposals on how the planning and approval of energy transition projects can be streamlined so that more projects can be implemented in a shorter period of time. This includes an addition of at least 100 gigawatts (GW) of solar PV systems, 50 GW of onshore wind energy, 12 GW of offshore wind and 15 GW of combined heat and power (CHP) systems over the next 10 years in addition to grid expansion. The BDEW’s proposals focus on three major areas: Standardisations that provide uniform binding solutions nationwide; the allocation of required spaces and the removal of blanket exclusions of areas; and the acceleration and modernisation of procedures through better staffing of authorities and modern equipment.
The issue has been met with broad support from candidates vying to succeed Chancellor Angela Merkel in Germany’s 26 September elections. During a discussion in June organized by the BDEW, Olaf Scholz (SPD), Armin Laschet (CDU/CSU), the Greens’ Annalena Baerbock and Christian Lindner (FDP) all agreed on the need to speed up the renewables rollout with more rapid approval procedures.
