Ensuring“acceleration zones,”wind and solar PV parks, and energy storage projects, Germany's federal cabinet on Wednesday approved a draft law aimed at shortening the project approval process, a move that fulfills the requirements of the European Union's 2023 Renewable Energy Directive.

A bill on planning and authorization requirements for onshore wind and photovoltaic power generation was drafted jointly by the Ministries of Transport, Environment and Economic Affairs. Acceleration zones and shorter approval times are to be established in order to promote faster expansion of renewable energy sources. According to the Ministry of Economic Affairs, the bill also applies to energy storage systems built on the same site.

The centerpiece of the proposed bill is the designation of so-called acceleration zones for onshore wind turbines and photovoltaic systems, including associated energy storage, under the provisions of the Building Code and Space Planning Act. Projects within these zones, including all projects outside of the acceleration zones, would then be implemented through a streamlined and accelerated process for approval under new provisions in the Wind Energy Area Requirements Act, i.e., the revised Federal Emissions Control Act.

The Renewable Energy Directive, which was revised last year, is based on the EU's goal of raising the share of renewable energy in the EU's total final energy consumption to at least 42.5%. In order to achieve this goal, the authorization process will have to be considerably accelerated.

Source: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/KyGofOTF_pbji1T8iOcIyQ