Renewables permitting stalls. EU, France and others pass laws to speed it up

The development of renewable energy sources is often hampered by permitting procedures. To speed them up, the European Union has adopted rules intended to accelerate them. In some cases, if authorities do not respond within one month of an application being filed, the permit is deemed granted. Some European Union countries are also adopting similar measures to accelerate renewable energy construction. In the Czech Republic, the necessary legislation is still being prepared. 

The European Union is gradually raising the targets it wants to achieve by 2030 for the share of renewable energy in total consumption. While the European package entitled “Clean Energy for All Europeans”, whose legislative process was only completed in 2019, set the renewable energy share target at 32%, the latest update now refers to a 42.5% share. However, the European Union’s efforts should aim as high as 45%.

But how can these targets be achieved? The European Union is not alone in recognising that one of the main barriers to the development of renewables, and thus to meeting the stated targets, is lengthy permitting procedures. Up to 80 GW of installed renewable capacity is currently at various stages of permitting. Onshore wind farms account for as much as 59 GW of the total capacity.