The reporter was informed that the European Union is proposing to cut the lengthy planning rules for the construction of renewable energy projects in order to reduce electricity prices and reduce the use of natural gas in energy. The European Commission is reportedly proposing a fast-track regulatory scheme that would speed up the approval process for renewable energy, especially solar power plants.
"The need for urgent action to address the energy crisis is reflected in the proposed regulation, which builds on the goal of accelerating the reduction of Russia's dependence on fossil fuels through the large-scale deployment of renewable energy as an alternative energy source," the agency said in the document.
It is understood that Europe has been trying to move away from dependence on Russian natural gas, while continuing to push forward energy decarbonization plans. However, growth in renewable energy production has been delayed by planning requirements that take up to 10 years to complete, a hurdle the industry has been lobbying to remove. Today, the new rules will focus on clearing the way for technologies and types of projects that can be deployed quickly, helping to reduce price volatility and gas demand.
The framework will bring into force the measures outlined in the European Commission's REPowerEU plan in May. In environmental law, heat pumps will be identified as "overriding the public interest" to speed up rollout. In addition, permit applications for solar panels, related co-storage and grid connections are available for up to three months.