Changes from report parliamentary committee draft to plenary report

Added(6) Local resistance, often rooted in lack of transparency, and insufficient community involvement can result in delays in permit-granting procedures and subsequent litigation. Early-stage and appropriate involvement of the public is a clear success factor in renewable energy projects, as indicated in Commission Recommendation (EU) 2024/1343. To ensure transparency from the initial stages of the process, Member States should ensure that local communities have access to all necessary information on the project, their rights and benefit sharing measures. A professional independent facilitator can accelerate the deployment of renewable energy installations above 7 MW by promoting consultations between the project developers and the local communities, if requested by the municipality, energy community or the project developer, prior and during the permit-granting procedures with the aim to promote dialogue and build consensus among the relevant parties including on proportionate benefit-sharing measures during the entire process and avoid legal disputes. The facilitator should be a third party, independent from the relevant parties, technically competent and should not have any financial stake connected to the developer or to the community where the project is located. The prioritisation of entities with proven experience in community energy when designating a facilitator would be beneficial in ensuring a brief and meaningful process. If a Member State already has alternative procedures in place that are fulfilling a similar function and are equally effective in ensuring participation and public acceptance of renewable energy projects, it should be possible for that Member State to retain and use those instead of appointing a facilitator.

RemovedThe effectiveness of Renewable Acceleration Areas introduced under Article 15c of the Renewable Energy Directive is barrier to ensure faster and shorter permitting deadlines. The current implementation has shown that its application has been uneven across Member States. In particular, the absence or insufficient designation of Renewable Acceleration Areas may result in large parts of national territories being treated, in practice, as de facto “no-go zones” undermining the objective of facilitating the timely deployment of renewable energy projects.

Added(7) The lack of resources of permitting authorities and the lack of digitalisation of permit-granting procedures and data availability are bottlenecks slowing down permit-granting procedures. Digitalisation and an appropriate use of artificial intelligence features are key tools to speed up procedures and to increase efficiency for all parties involved. It allows a faster handling of applications by the relevant authorities, and it allows project promoters to have quick access to clear information on process steps and requirements from the outset, therefore ensuring transparency and monitoring. However, digitalisation of permit-granting procedures is lagging behind, as it is often scattered among permit-granting procedures and steps across different competent authorities and in most Member States there is no unified digital process. Moreover, often more than one digital portal is used to treat the same project application and interoperability is not always ensured. This leads to a high administrative burden for project promoters, limited internal coordination among authorities dealing with permit-granting procedures at different levels, lack of visibility of the status of the application and unclarity on the bottlenecks slowing down permit-granting procedures. Member States should set up a single digital portal at national level for all the steps of the permit-granting procedures for renewable energy, storage and grid projects so that it contributes to more uniform digitalisation, interoperability and transparency across different permitting authorities in Member States and ultimately speed up permit-granting procedures. Where several elements of the same project, or of functionally linked projects, including renewable generation, storage and grid connection, are subject to permit-granting procedures, Member States should ensure that environmental impact assessment data are stored in systems that allow competent authorities to access and reuse the same dataset. Such systems should be designed to enable seamless communication between competent authorities through standardised interfaces and should simplify the process by allowing applicants to file their application in a single portal that can automatically attribute the applications to the competent authority, which will treat them directly in the portal avoiding intermediate paper-based steps. The single digital portal should be built, to the greatest extent possible, on existing national platforms and available data infrastructures, to avoid duplication, ensure efficiency and interoperability with relevant administrative systems, including existing portals of system operators. However, if cost-efficient and preferred by the Member State a new digital platform may be built. The portal should present features, including by means of artificial intelligence, allowing the single contact point, other authorities and applicants to check the status of the application and where delays are, as well as check compliance with the permitting deadlines. The portal should provide for means of artificial intelligence to allow for automated processing of mass requests that have the potential of delaying the built-out of electricity grids, renewable energy and storage projects. In addition, it should allow for the extraction of statistics to check the overall progress of permit-granting procedures in Member States. The format chosen for storing and communicating the relevant data collected through the portal should be interoperable. The portal should facilitate the duties of the single contact point who should have access to all relevant data and information. In order to further enhance legal certainty and predictability for applicants, competent authorities and system operators should provide clear and precise guidance at an early stage on the documentation and information requirements applicable to connection procedures. Such guidance should be presented in standardised formats, including structured requirement frameworks and procedural checklists, differentiated by connection type, and should be made available in advance through the single digital portal.

RemovedDirective (EU) 2018/2001

Added(7a) The use of advanced digital tools can significantly support the acceleration of permit-granting procedures while ensuring high environmental protection standards. The possibility to use tools that include dynamic virtual representations of a physical asset or infrastructure that are continuously updated with real-world data throughout their lifecycle should be further explored.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3, Article 15d – paragraph 3: 3. Member States shall adopt measures to ensure that an equitable share of the benefits of renewable energy projects with an installed capacity above 3 MW is passed on, directly or indirectly, to local citizens and communities in proximity to or otherwise affected by those projects, including households affected by energy poverty or vulnerability, as well as the expected local industrial development and employment associated with such projects. Those measures shall deliver economic benefits, prioritising lower electricity bills for households and businesses in affected communities, introducing a resource rent, namely a fixed share per kWh renewable energy produced in the local community, or enabling community ownership of the energy generating assets, and the energy produced by those assets through renewable energy communities.

Added(8) Faster and shorter permitting deadlines for permit-granting procedures need to reflect in their timelines the complexity of the projects concerned and be accompanied by additional measures which ensure their effectiveness in practice. Administrative tacit approval measures ensure that an application is automatically approved if the public administration fails to act within a legally defined deadline and are therefore a useful tool to address administrative inaction by providing legal effect to the administration’s silence. Directive (EU) 2018/2001 introduces tacit approval for certain decisions, namely for intermediate steps of the permit-granting procedure in renewable acceleration areas, and for the final permits for all small-scale solar installations with a capacity below 100 kW. Given the need to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy sources and the fact that the implementation of renewable acceleration areas is a time-consuming process, it is appropriate to also apply this measure in the permit-granting procedures applicable to projects located outside acceleration areas. In these procedures, Member States should ensure that the principle of administrative tacit approval is applied, including for final decisions with the exception of environmental decisions. In order to ensure an effective application of this measure and to guarantee the rights of third parties to judicial protection, the relevant authorities should make public that a decision has been tacitly adopted.

RemovedDirective (EU) 2018/2001

Added(9) Refurbishment, modernisation and repowering of existing renewable energy power plants have significant potential to contribute to the achievement of renewable energy targets. Since existing renewable energy power plants have, for the most part, been installed in sites with significant renewable energy source potential, refurbishment, modernisation and repowering can ensure the continued use of those sites, thus ensuring efficient land use and exploitation of the best renewable energy resources. This is particularly the case for the refurbishment, modernisation and repowering of onshore wind plants, especially taking into account that in Europe many onshore wind farms are approaching the end of contracts supporting their electricity generation and that 26 GW of existing wind plants have been in operation for more than 20 years. Refurbishment, modernisation and repowering includes further benefits such as an existing grid connection, a likely higher degree of public acceptance and knowledge of the likely environmental impacts. Considering that the repowering of wind plants often leads to a lower number of turbines being installed in the same site, the environmental impact of repowered wind plants is limited. Therefore, requirements on environmental screening or environmental impact assessment should be reduced or even waived where the refurbishment, modernisation or repowering of an existing wind plant does not entail the use of significant additional land surface, increases the total capacity of the installation and complies with the applicable environmental mitigation measures established for the original wind energy installation. The same should apply to the repowering of existing solar installations provided that it does not entail the use of additional space and complies with the applicable environmental mitigation measures established for the original solar installation. Repowering of existing renewable energy power plants should be done in accordance with the good practices laid down in Commission Staff Working Document entitled Guidance to Member States on good practices to speed up permit-granting procedures for renewable energy and related infrastructure projects, including any subsequent amendments or replacements, and taking into account the latest scientific developments.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3, Article 15d – paragraph 3 a (new): 3a. Member States shall identify the public likely to be affected, including residents, civil society organisations, local businesses, and municipalities representing local communities, taking into account the type, scale, geographical and environmental impact of the renewable energy project. Member States shall establish minimum standards for benefit sharing and appropriate criteria to assess the effectiveness of those measures.

Added(10) Self-consumption installations, including those for jointly-acting self-consumers and as local energy communities, contribute to reducing overall demand for natural gas, increasing resilience of the system and achieving the Union’s renewable energy targets, and supporting citizens and SMEs with ways to face recurrent energy crises characterised by volatile prices on fossil fuels and thus financial uncertainty. The installation of solar energy equipment and co-located energy storage with a capacity below 200 kW is not likely to have significant adverse effects on the environment or the grid and does not raise safety concerns. In addition, small installations do not generally require capacity expansion at the grid-connection point. In order to further accelerate the deployment of small-scale solar equipment and co-located energy storage, Member States should not require any administrative permits for these installations, with the exception of the grid connection permits or agreements, as is already the case in several Member States. Aligning Union legislation with existing best practices should allow further acceleration of the deployment of these installations in a harmonised manner. The installation of solar energy equipment and co-located energy storage above 200 kW in existing or future artificial structures does not typically raise concerns related to competing uses of space or environmental impact. Those installations should therefore benefit from shorter permit-granting procedures and be exempt, with appropriate safeguards, from the obligation to carry out an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council.

RemovedDirective (EU) 2018/2001

Added(11) Renewable energy plays a key role in the decarbonisation of the Union’s energy system by offering immediate solutions to replace fossil-fuel based energy and contributes to reduce energy prices and increase energy security. Therefore, the authorisation of renewable energy projects and related electricity grid infrastructure should not be too easily blocked due to the mere existence of any type of conflicting interests. Member States should promote renewable energy plants contributing to or supporting the transition towards climate neutrality and infrastructure assets such as co-located and stand-alone storage assets and the related grid and recharging stations or recharging pools by expanding the existing presumption applicable for conflicts with environmental interests to any other conflicting interests, except in relation to where it is strictly necessary for the protection of cultural heritage▌. Renewable energy projects, when presumed of being of overriding public interest over non-environmental interests, should be given priority and authorised. In order to ensure a harmonised application of this rebuttable presumption, Member States should not be allowed to introduce exceptions when dealing with all types of conflicts, including environmental ones. That approach should apply consistently across renewable energy technologies to ensure a level playing field and to fully exploit the potential of all renewable energy sources available in the Union.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3, Article 15d – paragraph 3 b (new): 3b. The Commission shall develop guidelines on benefit sharing to support Member States establishing standards and criteria, taking into account existing best practices, establishing key principles and baseline common standards for fair community engagement and benefit sharing in renewable energy projects.

Added(12) In order to speed up the deployment of renewables, their related assets and their connection to the grid, it is appropriate to also specify how the remaining conditions for applying specific derogations as provided for in Union environmental legislation can be met. In particular, for the purposes of relevant Union environmental law, when assessing whether there are satisfactory alternative solutions to the specific renewable energy project, the scope of such assessment should be limited to alternative solutions that ensure the achievement of the same objectives as the project in question within the same or similar timeframe and without resulting in significantly higher costs. When comparing the timeframe and the cost of satisfactory alternative solutions, the relevant authorities should take into account the need to deploy renewable energy in an accelerated and cost-effective manner in accordance with the priorities set out in their integrated national energy and climate plans and updates thereof submitted pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and the Council and the expected speed to achieve those priorities. Similarly, when applying the relevant derogation provided for in Council Directive 92/43/EEC, it is appropriate that the relevant authorities may, in some justified cases where it can be reasonably demonstrated that the relevant plan or project would not affect irreversibly the ecological processes essential for maintaining the structure and functions of the site, that the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network is not compromised, the environmental integrity of the site is preserved and that a high level of protection of the Natura 2000 sites is ensured, allow the compensatory measures to be carried out in parallel with the implementation of such plan or project.

RemovedDirective (EU) 2018/2001

Added(13) Accelerating the deployment of stand-alone energy storage is crucial to increase the flexibility of the energy system and to ensure system integration of renewable energy production. Stand-alone storage should therefore benefit from accelerated permit-granting procedures. Small-scale energy storage with a capacity below 200 kW is not likely to have significant adverse effects on the environment or the grid and is not expected to raise concerns related to competing uses of space. In view of this, it is appropriate to streamline the permit-granting procedures applicable to this type of storage by eliminating all administrative permits, with the exception of the grid connection permit or agreement, and exempting, with appropriate safeguards, these installations from the obligation to carry out an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Directive 2011/92/EU. The deployment of energy storage with a capacity above 200 kW also needs to be accelerated. Therefore, it is appropriate to streamline their permit-granting procedure by establishing a maximum overall deadline of six months, except for pumped hydropower storage, which must comply with stricter environmental requirements and therefore requires a longer maximum overall deadline. To ensure system integration of renewable energy production, it is necessary to increase flexibility sources, notably batteries of electric vehicles, as they can contribute to shifting peak electricity demand and reducing grid congestion. In order to achieve this, a swifter and easier deployment of recharging road infrastructure should be further promoted, notably covering cars, vans, trucks, busses or motorcycles, and plug-in hybrid or pure electric vehicles. Both alternating current and direct current recharging stations or recharging pools should benefit from accelerated permit-granting procedures, including for grid connection permits or agreements. Small recharging stations or recharging pools with a capacity below 200 kW and recharging pools below 1MW on artificial structures are not likely to have significant adverse effects on the environment or the grid and are not expected to raise concerns related to competing uses of space. In view of this, it is appropriate to streamline the permit-granting procedures applicable to these recharging stations or recharging pools by eliminating all administrative permits, with the exception of the grid connection permit or agreement, and exempting, with appropriate safeguards, these installations from the obligation to carry out an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Directive 2011/92/EU. The installation of recharging stations or recharging pools with a capacity above 200 kW also needs to be accelerated. Therefore, it is appropriate to streamline their permit-granting procedure by establishing a maximum overall deadline of six months. For the purposes of applying those capacity thresholds, where two or more recharging stations within a recharging pool share the same grid connection point, their capacity should be assessed jointly and, where such recharging stations have different grid connection points, their capacity should be assessed separately.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3, Article 15d – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – introductory part: Member States shall ensure that local communities have access to clear, accessible and reliable information, such as through the use of single digital contact point, on the permitting process, their rights, and benefit sharing measures. Project promoters and local communities shall engage with a view to reaching an agreement on benefit sharing measures related to the project. If such agreement cannot be found, Member States shall designate and finance an independent and technically competent facilitator to promote dialogue between the project developer and the general public for renewable energy projects with an installed capacity above 3MW. The facilitator shall only intervene upon request by any of the relevant parties, including citizens and energy communities, and shall:

Added(14) Obtaining grid connection permits is a crucial and often time-consuming part of the procedures to build and operate a renewable energy installation. It is therefore appropriate to further streamline the deadlines applicable for the grid connection procedures applicable to certain small-scale renewable energy projects, storage assets and recharging stations, or recharging pools, and the repowering and hybridisation of renewable energy projects, and to introduce clear rules regarding the obligations of the system operators during the permit procedures while ensuring the technical compatibility and the security, stability and functioning of the electricity system. Within the applicable deadlines, system operators should grant connection permits or agreements where capacity allows or, where capacity is insufficient, propose alternative solutions such as flexible connections, alternative connection points, or adjusted timelines. Refusal should remain a last resort where no viable option exists, including mitigation through non-market-based redispatch. Small-scale solar installations, storage and recharging stations or recharging pools should benefit from streamlined grid connection procedures, under appropriate conditions to ensure grid stability, reliability and safety.

RemovedDirective (EU) 2018/2001

Added(14a) A project developer’s request for a project to be connected to the grid is not a unilateral issuance of an administrative permit from the relevant authority to the project developer, but a two-sided agreement made between the project developer and the relevant authority, which encompasses several procedural steps starting from the project developer’s request for a connection to the grid accompanied by all documents required for the connection application and resulting in an agreement between the two parties on the conditions for a project to be connected to the grid.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3, Article 15d – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point a a (new): (aa) provide information on citizens’ rights and on opportunities to participate in co-ownership schemes, through for instance renewable or citizens energy communities, where relevant.

Added(14b) The hybridisation of renewable energy plants has significant potential to contribute to improving energy system integration and to achieving the renewable energy targets by combining multiple renewable energy technologies, for example by adding an electrolyser or wind turbines to an existing solar photovoltaic installation or combining renewable production, including the production of biogas and biomethane, with storage or another source of renewable energy production. The hybridisation of plants exploits the synergies and complementarity of different renewable energy sources thereby ensuring a more stable energy supply and allowing to introduce flexibility to the energy system by combining generation and storage. Moreover, the combination of different renewable energy technologies or renewable energy with storage in existing sites allows to benefit from existing grid connections and necessary infrastructure and reduces the need for new land and overall environmental assessments of projects.

RemovedDirective (EU) 2018/2001

Added(14c) In addition to renewable energy projects, including energy storage and recharging stations and recharging pools, and related grid infrastructure, heat pumps are of crucial importance to ensure European energy independence, the electrification of European industry and households and reaching the Union’s energy and climate targets. Therefore, permit-granting procedures for heat pumps should also be accelerated while ensuring technical compatibility and safety. To ensure efficiency of the process, Member States should also ensure that, in jurisdictions where the concept of tacit approval exists under national law, it is applied to requests for installations of heat pumps below 50 MW.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3, Article 15d – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1 – point b: (b) engage to find solutions to address potential concerns raised by local communities, municipalities and other relevant local stakeholders, including, where relevant, concerns related to landscape, local socio-economic effects and public health.

Added(15) The Draghi report on EU competitiveness and the Action Plan for Affordable Energy recognise the positive impact of recent reforms to accelerate permit-granting procedures. However, they also highlight lengthy and uncertain permit-granting procedures for grids as a major obstacle to faster installation of necessary new capacity to accommodate clean energy investments and reduce energy costs in the EU. While there are specific rules on permit-granting procedures under Directive (EU) 2018/2001, Directive (EU) 2024/1788 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EU) 2022/869 of the European Parliament and of the Council these regimes do not cover general electricity grid infrastructure assets. As such, general requirements on authorisation procedures for electricity transmission and distribution system infrastructure must be provided in Directive (EU) 2019/944, specifically in the form of requirements for Member States to ensure a maximum duration of such procedures and establishing requirements that support in meeting those deadlines. Regulation (EU) 2022/869 and Directive (EU) 2018/2001 contain rules for the authorisation of certain energy projects. In case of contradiction between those rules and the rules established in this Directive for the authorisation of certain electricity projects, the former should take precedence.

RemovedDirective (EU) 2018/2001

Added(15a) Grid connection queues have grown significantly in a number of Member States, with speculative and immature applications reserving capacity for projects that do not materialise, blocking viable projects and delaying the deployment of generation, storage and flexible demand needed for the energy transition. The European Parliament in its resolution of 19 June 2025 entitled ‘Electricity grids: the backbone of the EU energy system’ (2025/2006(INI)) stated that national regulatory authorities (NRAs) could benefit from clear legislative provisions as to how Member States can prioritise grid connections. The non-discrimination principle in Article 6 of Directive (EU) 2019/944 does not require Member States to apply a ‘first-come, first-served’ principle to the ordering of grid connection requests, and does not preclude the introduction of transparent and objective ordering frameworks, as clarified by the Commission in its Notice on guidance on efficient and timely grid connections (C/2025/6703). Member States should establish criteria for prioritizing connection requests having due regard to the recommendations by the Commission laid down in that Notice.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3, Article 15d – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2 a (new): Member States may rely on existing national procedures in place of the facilitator where they can demonstrate that such procedures are equally effective in ensuring independence, transparency, and meaningful participation, such as national, regional or local authorities with the necessary knowledge and skills serving as facilitators.

Added(15b) The lack of sufficient capacity in the transmission and distribution electricity grids in several Member States constitutes a serious bottleneck to the electrification and decarbonisation of European industry and households and to the Union’s efforts to ensure energy independence and affordability. Optimising the use of the Union’s electricity grids while ensuring the necessary expansion of the grids and deployment of recharging infrastructure, and energy storage are therefore crucial. Increasing the capacity of the Union’s electricity grid should be prioritised, as it supports electrification without prejudice to the technology mix contributing to the electricity system, thereby reflecting the principle of technological neutrality in the Union and providing benefits from streamlined procedures on an equal basis in all Member States, regardless of their national electricity mix.

RemovedDirective (EU) 2018/2001

Added(16) Lack of financial resources and staffing in national authorities and the reduced digitalisation of permit-granting procedures results in delays in the permitting of electricity system infrastructure and generation assets. Member States should ensure that such authorities have adequate human financial and technical resources, including skills, and digital management tools and systems that enable them to render decisions within the deadlines provided in the Directive. To that end, Member States should make effective use of relevant Union funds.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b, Article 16 – paragraph 3a – subparagraph 1: Member States shall set up a single digital portal at national level for all the steps of the permit-granting procedures for renewable energy, storage, grid projects and recharging stations, serving as a single-entry point for applicants and ensuring the coordinated handling of applications across all competent authorities.

Added(16a) There is an urgent need to address labour shortages in the energy sector. The energy workforce must grow significantly by 2030 to support the deployment of renewables and grid expansion. In order to ensure adequate skilled staff, the Member States should rely on the Commission’s support in ensuring training, upskilling and reskilling in grid-related skills. National, regional and local authorities responsible for permit-grating procedures of electricity system infrastructure and generation assets are encouraged to map their future need for human financial and technical resources.

RemovedDirective (EU) 2018/2001

Added(17) The authorisation procedures under Directive (EU) 2019/944 should be clear, efficient and transparent and consistent with the fulfilment of existing distribution network development plan and the transmission ten-year network development plan. Thus, Member States are expected to lay down and publish objective and non-discriminatory criteria and procedures for authorisation that take into account amongst other things the safety and security of the electricity system, land use, energy efficiency, characteristics particular to the permit applicant, emission reductions, the importance to accelerate the deployment of energy infrastructure to reach climate neutrality, and alternatives to the project.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b, Article 16 – paragraph 3a – subparagraph 1 a (new): Such a system shall be built, to the greatest extent possible, on existing national platforms and available data infrastructures, in order to avoid duplication, ensure efficiency and ensure interoperability with relevant administrative systems, including existing portals of system operators. It shall be designed to enable seamless communication between competent authorities through standardised interfaces.

Added(17a) The Commission notice on a guidance on anticipatory investments for developing forward-looking electricity networks of 6 June 2025 has identified the absence of distribution and transmission network development plans coordination as a source of inefficiency and increased risk of network bottlenecks and delays, while noting that further action was being considered under the Grids Package. Distribution and transmission network development plans should be developed at the same intervals and in close coordination, each taking into account the scenarios and assumptions of the other, so that anticipatory investments at one level are matched at the other and distribution-level developments are properly reflected in national network planning.

RemovedDirective (EU) 2018/2001

Added(17b) In Member States with fragmented distribution sectors a large number of integrated electricity undertakings operate distribution networks serving fewer than 100 000 connected customers and benefit from derogations under Articles 31, 32 and 35 of Directive (EU) 2019/944 from obligations to carry out network development planning, provide harmonised access to network data and facilitate access to flexibility services. According to ACER, almost two thirds of Union distribution system operators are exempt from preparing distribution network development plans. While this reflects the diversity of distribution sector structures across Member States, it means that in those Member States where small integrated undertakings predominate, a significant share of customers is served by networks that are structurally less visible to planning processes and less accessible to flexibility markets, precisely where renewable energy sources, storage, electrification and active demand are connecting at the fastest rate. Member States should ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place to enable integrated electricity undertakings, including but not limited to those benefiting from such derogations, to combine their resources and cooperate with one another in carrying out those tasks jointly to increase synergies and reduce burden while preserving the independence of the entity or arrangement concerned from supply and generation activities. Existing models in Member States, such as the cooperative arrangements established in Belgium between intermunicipal distribution system operators and their shared operating companies, demonstrate that such cooperation is operationally proven, compatible with public and municipal ownership structures, and capable of delivering the planning, data and flexibility functions required for the energy transition at local level.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 4 – point b, Article 16 – paragraph 3a – subparagraph 2: Member States shall ensure that permitting procedures are fully digital by default, using structured and machine-readable data formats and interoperable systems. Applicants shall submit permit applications and all relevant documents required for the permit-granting procedure only through the single digital portal. The single digital portal shall automatize the attribution of permit applications to the competent authorities, which shall process the relevant applications and documents in electronic form and interact with the applicants directly in the single digital portal. Access to the portal shall be granted to competent authorities and relevant project developers. Access to information contained therein shall be governed by applicable Union and national rules on public access to documents, ensuring the protection of commercially sensitive and other confidential information.

Added(17c) Transparency regarding the use of distribution network capacity is essential for identifying inefficiencies and unlocking additional connection capacity for generation and demand. Distribution system operators should be required to publish, at least once a year, information on reserved but unconnected injection and withdrawal capacity, on the actual use of connected distributed generation and energy storage facilities relative to their contracted capacity, and on the potential for making additional connection capacity available through more efficient use of the network. Where such information reveals significant potential for efficiency gains, the Member State concerned should adopt concrete measures to address the identified causes of inefficient use, following transparent consultation with all relevant system users.

RemovedDirective (EU) 2018/2001

Added(18) Given the urgency of developing electricity infrastructures, Member States are expected to ensure that authorisation procedures consider the characteristics of a project when assessing the need, or lack thereof, to conduct assessments, including environmental assessments, or produce studies, authorisations or reports. The competent national authorities should limit assessments and requests for information from promoters to the strictly necessary and avoid duplication in every instance possible.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 6 – point c, Article 16c – paragraph 4: 4. Where the repowering of wind energy installations increases the total capacity of the installation without the use of significant additional land surface and without significantly increasing the height of the existing wind installation, while complying with the applicable environmental mitigation measures established for the original wind energy installation, the project shall be exempt from any applicable requirements to carry out a screening process pursuant to Article 16a(4), to determine whether the project requires an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Article 4(2) of Directive 2011/92/EU or Article 5 of Regulation [xxxxx] of the European Parliament and of the Council, or to carry out an environmental impact assessment pursuant to Article 4(1) of Directive 2011/92/EU.’;

Added(19) To increase predictability and certainty over the duration and costs of authorisation procedures under Directive (EU) 2019/944, requests for information and documentation from applicants should be concrete, specific and contained in time. As such Member States should ensure that national authorities request the relevant information to issue the permit from applicants within a pre-specified period counted from when the application is received and concretely determine the content and detail of any information or data requested. After such period, requests for information should be limited to missing information that had been previously identified or requested by the authority, or information that could not be requested before due to the fact that it relates to a material change in circumstances taking place after the project applied for an authorisation.

RemovedDirective (EU) 2018/2001

Added(20) While respecting the principle of subsidiarity, national competences and procedures, Directive (EU) 2019/944 should set a clear time limit for the decision of the relevant authorities which stimulates an efficient definition and handling of procedures leading to the deployment of electricity grids. Nevertheless, Member States can strive to achieve shorter permit-granting procedures where feasible, specially as regards projects for refurbishment, modernisation or repowering of existing transmission system infrastructure and the construction of new distribution system infrastructure, which may not require as complex a permit-granting procedure as new transmission infrastructure.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9, Article 16i – paragraph 2: 2. Member States shall not require any administrative permit, including on environmental aspects, with the exception of grid connection permits, for the installation of recharging stations with a total installed capacity of 150 kW or less. By way of derogation from Article 2(1) of Directive 2011/92/EU, the installation of those stations shall be exempt from the requirement, where applicable pursuant to Article 2(1) of that Directive, to carry out a dedicated environmental impact assessment. Member States shall restrict the application of this subparagraph in Natura 2000 areas and other areas under national protection schemes and cultural or historical heritage protected areas.

Added(21) In line with the urgency to optimise, upgrade, and deploy electricity grids to achieve the Union’s energy and climate goals and accompany deadlines for permit-granting procedures with measures that ensure their effectiveness in practice, Member States should ensure that, in jurisdictions where the concept of tacit approval exists under national law, it is applied to administrative decisions concerning electricity grid projects, with the exception of environmental decisions. To guarantee the rights of third parties to judicial protection, the relevant authorities should make public all decisions adopted, including those that were tacitly adopted.

RemovedDirective (EU) 2018/2001

Added(22) In order to reduce complexity, increase efficiency and transparency, and help enhance cooperation among Member States, there should be contact points for electricity transmission or distribution system operators promoting grids project or other network assets until a decision is rendered. These contact points will be responsible for facilitating and guiding applicants through the authorisation procedures associated with this type of infrastructure. In the spirit of simplification, if the Member State deems appropriate and more efficient it may concentrate this responsibility in the national competent authorities referred to in Article 8 of Regulation (EU) 2022/869, as these authorities already perform such role in what concerns the permitting of infrastructure projects of common interest and projects of mutual interest. In merging such roles, Member States should pay particular attention to ensure that the contact points are adequately staffed and enjoy the resources and capacity necessary to perform the tasks under their responsibility.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 9, Article 16i – paragraph 3: 3. Member States shall ensure that the permit-granting procedures, including grid connection permits and, where required, environmental assessments, shall not exceed six months for recharging stations with a total installed capacity above 150 kW.

Added(23) Due to their role integrating renewable energy assets, flexibility solutions, energy storage and enabling electrification in general, electricity transmission or distribution system infrastructure are essential to reach climate neutrality. Considering the key role of electricity system infrastructure to reach climate neutrality, in the necessary case-by-case assessments, Member States should presume electricity transmission or distribution system infrastructure, including on-shore power supply in ports to be of overriding public interest and serving public health and safety, except for in relation to where it is strictly necessary for the protection of cultural heritage ▌. Electricity transmission or distribution system infrastructure presumed to be of overriding public interest over non-environmental interests should be given priority over non-environmental interests and authorised as fast as possible.

RemovedDirective (EU) 2018/2001

Added(23a) In order to reach the Union’s energy and decarbonisation targets, including the Unions intermediate climate target for 2040 and the net-zero target by 2050, carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) will play an important role in reducing emissions from hard to-abate sectors, as recognised in the Communication on a 2040 Climate Target by the Commission. However, a number of barriers to the development of the carbon capture and storage technology remain, including, in particular the cost of CCS, price signals, CO2 storage availability and maturity of the technology. To encourage the development of the carbon industry, the Commission will put forward a legislative initiative on CO2 transportation infrastructure and markets. As part of that initiative, it is expected that the Commission will prepare a comprehensive assessment of the role of permit-granting procedures for the necessary deployment of carbon infrastructure and storage, and in accordance with that assessment address any potential bottlenecks in the permit-granting procedures while ensuring safety and environmental integrity.

RemovedArticle 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10, Article 17 – paragraph 2 – introductory part: 2. Within the deadlines set out in Article 16a(1), Article 16b(1), Article 16h(3), Article 16i(3) and paragraph 1 of this Article, the system operator shall offer the following options, provided that it has received sufficient information from other relevant system operators on available capacity at connection points regardless of whether this is used for supply or feed-in:

Added(24) In order to speed up the deployment of electricity grids, it is appropriate to specify how the conditions for applying specific derogations as provided for in Union environmental legislation can be met. In particular, when assessing whether there are satisfactory alternative solutions to the electricity grid project, the scope of such assessment should be limited to alternative solutions that ensure the achievement of the same objective within the same or similar timeframe and without resulting in significantly higher costs. When comparing the timeframe and the cost of satisfactory alternative solutions, the relevant authorities should take into account the need to deploy grids in an accelerated and cost-effective manner in accordance with the priorities set out in their integrated national energy and climate plans and updates thereof submitted pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999. Similarly, when applying the relevant derogation provided for in Directive 92/43/EEC, it is appropriate that the relevant authorities may, in some justified cases where it can be reasonably demonstrated that the relevant plan or project would not affect irreversibly the ecological processes essential for maintaining the structure and functions of the site, that the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network is not compromised, the environmental integrity of the site is preserved and that a high level of protection of the Natura 2000 sites is ensured, allow the compensatory measures to be carried out in parallel with the implementation of the plan and project.

RemovedDirective (EU) 2018/2001