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.
