EU energy ministers have given the green light to a temporary package of measures to accelerate Europe’s renewable energy transition and reduce reliance on Russian energy sources. A new Council regulation will introduce “urgent and targeted measures” to speed up the approval and deployment of renewable energy technologies and projects. Under the new rules, the permit-granting process for solar energy will not exceed three months, while timelines for installing heat pumps and repowering renewable energy power plants will also be cut. The regulation will be valid for 18 months but may be extended. “More renewables in our grids will help us reduce our demand for fossil fuels and drive down energy bills. With these rules we will speed up permitting processes that are often too lengthy and cumbersome,” said Jozef Síkela, the Czech Minister of Industry and Trade.
