The German parliament approves expedited processes for industrial and energy plant permits.
The process of approving wind turbines and hydrogen-producing electrolyzers is set to undergo digitalization and speed up. This includes shorter approval deadlines and easier submission of documents. This could lead to earlier construction starts.
The initial proposals were only meant to simplify regulations for renewable energy facilities. However, during parliamentary discussions the traffic light coalition agreed that industrial plants should also benefit from these changes.
The Federal Immission Control Act, introduced in the 1970s, aims to combat pollution from industries. It has undergone several revisions and extensions, covering protections against air pollution, noise, and vibrations. With this new reform, climate protection now becomes an important target for the law.
This decision was met with positive responses from the energy sector. Simone Peter, President of the Federal Association of Renewable Energy (BEE), said, "Digitalizing the approval applications for renewable energy plants, including electrolyzers, will eliminate the need for vast amounts of paperwork required for their construction." She added, "The improved regulations for the repowering of wind energy plants match our long-held desire for simpler bureaucratic processes when it comes to setting up wind turbines on existing sites." The same goes for the extension of this digitalization to industrial plants, according to BEE.
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- The Bundestag has authorized a novella that aims to reform the law governing permits for both renewable energy systems and industrial plants, with the goal of accelerating the approval procedure.
- Under the new energy system reform, businesses in the industry sector will benefit from streamlined authorization processes, allowing for quicker permits and reduced bureaucracy.
- The Law on Emission Control, originally introduced in the 1970s to combat pollution, has been revised numerous times, now incorporating climate protection and targeting reductions in air pollution, noise, and vibrations.
- The self-regulatory body for the German renewable energy industry, the Federal Association of Renewable Energy (BEE), has welcomed the approval of new reforms that will digitalize permit applications for energy systems and industrial plants, thereby eliminating unnecessary paperwork and reducing red tape.
