According to representatives of the government coalition, the proposals made by the European Commission for emergency measures to speed up the expansion of renewable energy would provide Germany with the opportunity to quickly implement a number of measures aimed at cushioning the effects of the energy crisis and bringing down prices. Robert Habeck, minister of the economy and the environment, stated that the regulation is a crucial key for the energy crisis to quickly become independent from Russian gas while also achieving our climate targets. “The regulation is a crucial key for the energy crisis,” Habeck said. “I’m glad that the Commission has followed our call in the EU Council to introduce emergency measures,” he added. “I’m glad that the Commission has followed our call.”
According to the minister representing the Green Party, the proposal from the Commission would help to significantly accelerate the licensing procedures for wind turbines, roof-mounted solar power installations, and heat pumps. Matthias Miersch, the deputy parliamentary group leader for the Social Democrats (SPD), stated that the proposed regulatory changes to species protection and environmental suitability would remove obstacles that currently cause a significant amount of delay in the expansion of renewables.
The proposal made by the Commission to hasten the expansion of renewable energy sources is in the form of a so-called EU regulation, which is a binding legislative act that directly applies across the entirety of the EU. This is in contrast to an EU directive, which lays out a goal for which each member state is then required to devise a national law. It includes provisions for making renewable power installations matters of overriding public interest, which simplifies and relaxes licensing procedures, for example in regard to environmental regulation. This was done by including provisions for making renewable power installations matters of overriding public interest.
Additionally, it expedites the licensing process for solar photovoltaic installations that are mounted on rooftops and the process of re-powering existing installations, such as when older wind turbines are replaced with newer ones. According to the economy ministry, the proposal will become effective for an initial period of one year after receiving approval from the EU Council, which is likely to occur at the end of November. The proposal is intended to supplement existing EU measures in response to the energy crisis.
