BETA


2022/0160(COD) Renewable Energy, Energy Performance of Buildings and Energy Efficiency Directives: amendments (REPowerEU)

Progress: Awaiting Parliament's position in 1st reading

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead ITRE PIEPER Markus (icon: EPP EPP) GONZÁLEZ CASARES Nicolás (icon: S&D S&D), GRUDLER Christophe (icon: Renew Renew), NIINISTÖ Ville (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), BORCHIA Paolo (icon: ID ID), TOŠENOVSKÝ Evžen (icon: ECR ECR), REGO Sira (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL)
Committee Opinion ENVI TORVALDS Nils (icon: Renew Renew) Martin HÄUSLING (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), Maria SPYRAKI (icon: PPE PPE), Tiemo WÖLKEN (icon: S&D S&D), Idoia VILLANUEVA RUIZ (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL), Anna ZALEWSKA (icon: ECR ECR)
Committee Opinion AGRI KATAINEN Elsi (icon: Renew Renew) Giuseppe FERRANDINO (icon: S&D S&D), Bronis ROPĖ (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE), Tom VANDENKENDELAERE (icon: PPE PPE), Krzysztof JURGIEL (icon: ECR ECR), Chris MACMANUS (icon: GUE/NGL GUE/NGL)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
RoP 57, TFEU 192-p1, TFEU 194-p2

Events

2023/01/26
   IE_HOUSES-OF-OIREACHTAS - Contribution
Documents
2022/12/14
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2022/12/14
   EP - Decision by Parliament, 1st reading
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 407 votes to 34, with 181 abstentions, amendments to the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings and Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency.

The matter was referred back to the committee responsible for inter-institutional negotiations.

The overall aim of this proposal is to accelerate the procedure to grant permits for new renewable energy power plants, such as solar panels or windmills, or to adapt existing ones.

The main amendments adopted in plenary concern the following issues:

Integrated multilevel mapping and planning of areas necessary for national contributions towards the 2030 renewable energy target and the climate-neutrality objective

By one year after the entry into force, Member States should perform an integrated multilevel mapping and planning for the deployment of renewable energy resources on their entire territory in coordination with all relevant national, regional and local authorities to identify the domestic potential and the available land, surface, subsurface and sea areas for their deployment. Member States should also identify the installed capacity as well as the land, surface, subsurface and sea areas needed for the production of energy from renewable sources and their related infrastructure, such as grid and storage facilities, including thermal storage, that are required in order to meet their national contributions towards the 2030 renewable energy target and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

Renewables acceleration areas

No later than two years after entry into force, Member States should adopt, in coordination with their local and regional authorities, a plan or plans designating, in the areas covered by the Directive, renewable acceleration areas for one or more types of renewable energy sources, i.e. areas particularly suitable for the deployment of renewable energy projects, for which the timeframe of administrative permit-granting procedures can be particularly shortened.

Member States should (i) designate sufficiently homogeneous land and sea areas in which the deployment of a specific type or types of renewable energy should not have significant environmental effects, taking into account the particularities of the selected territory, and (ii) establish rules for the designated renewable energy accelerations areas, including on mitigation measures to be adopted for the hosting of renewable energy installations, in order to avoid or significantly reduce any negative environmental impacts that may result.

Areas that have already been designated for the installation of wind or solar power plants could be declared ‘renewables acceleration areas’ by Member States.

Members also added provisions to ensure public participation prior to the identification of the areas needed for projects to be installed and prior to the designation of so-called renewables acceleration areas.

Permit-granting process in renewable acceleration areas

To speed up the permitting process and thus the deployment of renewable energy projects, Member States should ensure that the permit-granting process does not exceed nine months for projects in renewable acceleration areas, including their related energy network elements and grid connection.

- The permit-granting process for the repowering of plants , including those that increase capacity and increase the need for the development of the related energy network without increasing the occupied area, and for new installations with an electrical output of less than 150 kW, energy storage facilities, including power and thermal storage facilities, and their grid connection, located in renewable acceleration areas should not exceed six months .

- Where the repowering does not result in an increase in the capacity of the renewable energy power plant beyond 15 %, and without prejudice to the need to assess any potential environmental impacts, grid connections to the transmission or distribution grid should be permitted within one month following application to the relevant entity unless there are justified safety concerns or there is technical incompatibility of the system components.

- Where the repowering of solar installations does not entail the use of additional space and complies with the applicable environmental mitigation measures established for the original installation, the project should be exempted from the requirement, if applicable, to be subject to a determination whether the project requires an environmental impact assessment.

In the permit-granting process, in the absence of a timely response from the relevant administrative bodies, the permit or application would be deemed approved .

Permit-granting process outside renewables acceleration areas

The permit-granting process should not exceed 18 months . This period should apply to renewable hybrid power plants, and their related energy networks concerning projects outside renewables acceleration areas. Where duly justified on the grounds of extraordinary circumstances, that 18-month period may be extended by up to three months.

The amendments also stipulate that:

- the permit-granting process for the installation of solar energy equipment , including on rooftop, and co- located energy storage assets, including building-integrated solar installations, in existing or future artificial structures, with the exclusion of artificial water surfaces, should not exceed one month, provided that the primary aim of such structures is not solar energy production;

- the permitting procedure for the installation of heat pumps should not exceed one month.

Documents
2022/12/14
   EP - Matter referred back to the committee responsible
2022/12/13
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2022/11/30
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading
Details

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy adopted the report by Markus PIEPER (EPP, DE) on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings and Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency.

The committee responsible recommended that the European Parliament's position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure should amend the proposal as follows:

The general context created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a surge in energy prices across the EU, thus highlighting the need to accelerate energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy in the Union. In order to achieve the long-term objective of an energy system that is independent of third countries, the Union should focus on accelerating the green transition and ensuring an emission-reducing energy policy that reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels and establishes fair and affordable prices for Union citizens and enterprises in all sectors of the economy.

The overall aim of this proposal is to accelerate the procedure to grant permits for new renewable energy power plants, such as solar panels or windmills, or to adapt existing ones.

Integrated multilevel mapping and planning of areas necessary for national contributions towards the 2030 renewable energy target and the climate-neutrality objective

The report stated that by one year after the entry into force, Member States will perform an integrated multilevel mapping and planning for the deployment of renewable energy resources on their entire territory in coordination with all relevant national, regional and local authorities to identify the domestic potential and the available land, surface, subsurface and sea areas for their deployment. Member States shall also identify the installed capacity as well as the land, surface, subsurface and sea areas needed for the production of energy from renewable sources and their related infrastructure, such as grid and storage facilities, including thermal storage , that are required in order to meet their national contributions towards the 2030 renewable energy target and to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

Renewables acceleration areas

Members introduced the definition of ’renewables acceleration area’ to mean a specific location, whether on land or sea, which has been prioritised by a Member State as particularly suitable for the accelerated installation of plants for the production of energy from renewable sources, other than biomass combustion plants, taking into account the assets needed for their connection to the grid and related energy networks.’

By 2 years after the entry into force, Member States will, in coordination with their local and regional authorities, adopt a plan or plans designating, within the areas referred to in the Directive, renewables acceleration areas for one or more types of renewable energy sources.

Member States will inter alia : (i) give priority to artificial and built surfaces, such as rooftops and facades of buildings , transport infrastructure areas and their direct surroundings, parking areas, artificial lakes , inland water bodies or reservoirs, and degraded land not usable for agriculture; (ii) remove administrative barriers and allocate sufficient well-trained staff and administrative resources.

Repower existing installations

On repowering existing renewable energy plants, Members want the permit-granting process to not exceed six months for repowering projects in renewables acceleration areas, and one year outside of them. As repowering can reduce the need to designate new sites, projects could also benefit from existing grid connections, a likely higher degree of public acceptance and knowledge of environmental impacts.

Faster permit granting process

To speed up the permit granting process and in turn accelerate the deployment of renewable energy projects, Member States will ensure that the permit-granting process will not exceed nine months for projects in renewables acceleration areas, including their related energy network elements and grid connection. The permit-granting process for the repowering of plants including those increasing the capacity and the need for related energy network developments without increasing the occupied area and for new installations with an electrical capacity of less than 150 kW, energy storage including power and thermal facilities as well as their grid connection, located in renewables acceleration areas will not exceed six months.

These areas will be marked out by each Member State depending on whether they are able to install renewables at a faster pace. If the competent authority does not respond by the deadline, the permit or request is deemed to be approved. Outside such areas, Members proposed that the process will not exceed 18 months (as opposed to two years as originally proposed by the Commission).

Solar energy equipment in artificial structures

Member States will ensure that the permit-granting process for the installation of solar energy equipment, including building integrated solar installations, in existing or future artificial structures, with the exclusion of artificial water surfaces, will not exceed three months, provided that the primary aim of such structures is not solar energy production. For solar installations below 50kW, Member States will allow a simple-notification procedure. Installing solar equipment would be exempt from the requirement to conduct an environmental impact assessment.

Member States will also establish a roadmap to remove other barriers and to enhance the accelerated deployment of solar energy.

Documents
2022/11/14
   EP - Vote in committee, 1st reading
2022/10/26
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2022/10/05
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2022/09/29
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2022/09/29
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2022/09/16
   RO_SENATE - Contribution
Documents
2022/09/15
   EP - Referral to associated committees announced in Parliament
2022/09/05
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2022/07/25
   CZ_SENATE - Contribution
Documents
2022/07/13
   ESC - Economic and Social Committee: opinion, report
Documents
2022/06/29
   EP - KATAINEN Elsi (Renew) appointed as rapporteur in AGRI
2022/06/17
   EP - PIEPER Markus (EPP) appointed as rapporteur in ITRE
2022/06/09
   EP - TORVALDS Nils (Renew) appointed as rapporteur in ENVI
2022/06/06
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading
2022/05/18
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to accelerate energy efficiency and the deployment of renewable energies throughout the Union and thus ensure the achievement of the Union's ambitious climate and energy objectives by 2030 and the objective of climate neutrality by 2050.

PROPOSED ACT: Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the European Parliament decides in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure and on an equal footing with the Council.

BACKGROUND: the current international tensions arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the general geopolitical context and very high energy prices have exacerbated the need to accelerate energy efficiency and the deployment of renewable energies in the Union in order to have an energy system that is more independent from third countries. The Union's energy efficiency and renewable energy targets should take into account the urgent need to accelerate energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment and should therefore be increased.

In addition, considering that buildings account for 40% of energy consumed and 36% of energy-related direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions, it is necessary to increase the deployment of solar installations on buildings.

Furthermore, lengthy and complex administrative procedures have been identified as one of the key obstacles for investments in renewables and related infrastructure. Conflicting public goods are the second main source of obstacles for the deployment of renewable installations. This is particularly the case for wind power, geothermal power and hydropower as well as solar photovoltaics.

Further obstacles identified in the study relate to the lack of support from policy decisionmakers or protracted opposition from public or private institutions or the public itself as well as problems related to grid connections and operation procedures.

As a result of these barriers, the lead time for renewable energy projects can take up to ten years. A precondition for the acceleration of renewable energy projects to materialise is therefore to simplify and shorten permitting, as set out in the REPower EU Communication issued in the wake of recent geopolitical events.

CONTENT: this proposal is a Directive amending Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, increasing the Union's renewable energy target for 2030 and strengthening the permitting provisions of that Directive.

More specifically, the proposal:

- increases the Union's renewable energy target to 45% ;

- requires Member States to promote the testing of new renewable energy technologies while applying appropriate safeguards;

- introduces an obligation for Member States to identify the land and sea areas necessary for the installation of plants for the production of energy from renewable sources in order to meet their national contributions towards the 2030 renewable energy target;

- obliges Member States to adopt a plan or plans designating ‘renewables go-to areas’, which are particularly suitable areas for the installation of production of energy from renewable sources;

- extends the scope of the permit-granting process , clarifying the start of the permit-granting process and asking for the most expeditious administrative and judicial procedures available for appeals in the context of an application for a renewable energy projects;

- regulates the permit-granting process in renewables go-to areas;

- regulates the permit-granting process for the installation of solar energy equipment in artificial structures;

- ensures that plants for the production of energy from renewable sources, their connection to the grid, the related grid itself or storage assets are presumed to be of overriding public interest for specific purposes.

The proposal also amends Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings by obliging Member States to ensure that new buildings are solar ready and to install solar energy installations on buildings (i) no later than 31 December 2026, on all new public and commercial buildings with a usable floor area of more than 250 square metres; (ii) no later than 31 December 2027, on all existing public and commercial buildings with a usable floor area of more than 250 square metres; and (iii) no later than 31 December 2029, on all new residential buildings.

Lastly, the proposal amends the Energy Efficiency Directive 2012/27/EU , raising the Union's energy efficiency target for 2030 . Member States should collectively ensure that energy consumption is reduced by at least 13% in 2030 compared to the 2020 baseline projections, so that the Union's final energy consumption does not exceed 750 Mtoe and the Union's primary energy consumption does not exceed 980 Mtoe in 2030.

Documents

Activities

AmendmentsDossier
576 2022/0160(COD)
2022/09/09 AGRI 71 amendments...
source: 735.625
2022/09/19 ENVI 219 amendments...
source: 736.401
2022/09/29 ITRE 286 amendments...
source: 736.665

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

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