WEMO24-Compiled Report-Interactive compressed (002) 4154-7882-8116 v.1 - Flipbook - Page 144
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The problems of technological advances in the
face of slow administrative procedures
Although the procedures for granting permits have been
simplified, and appeals reduced, it regularly happens that certain
network projects that have been approved are no longer up to
standard. In fact, the granting of a permit can sometimes take
so long that the approval relating to the specific technological
features of the project has become obsolete. To compensate for
this, some states have adopted models that allow developers
to define a series of technological parameters in their permit
applications, enabling them to maximize energy production if
they were to modernize their projects. This mainly concerns wind
farm projects, which are increasingly in demand in Europe. As
a result, their energy production capacity is doubling between
the final investment decision and the granting of permits.
This is the case in Sweden, where wind farm project approvals
include the option of modifying the technical specifications of
the turbines themselves. The revision of the RED II directive in
2023 has also made it possible for constant updates to be made
to the permit, depending on the length of the procedure and,
if justified by the importance of the project, to compensate for
the slowness of the administrative procedures in the face of
technological advances.
The Public policy on specific energy
projects
Adaptation needed at local level
For renewable energies produced on a small scale by households
or energy communities, regulatory barriers to the market
aggravate their production. For example, countries such as
Portugal and Ireland have introduced exemptions for renewable
energy communities from due diligence depending on their
use of the local public grid. Projects are generally subject to
environmental impact assessments measured within the local
perimeter. However, the environmental impact assessment
deadlines are sometimes extended, thereby delaying the launch
of the project. To avoid such delays, member states such as
France and Italy have shortened these environmental impact
assessment periods to one to two months.
WEMO 2024
The need to adapt technological
specifications in the time between
permit application and projet
construction
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