The German Federal Government has today approved a significant legislative proposal aimed at accelerating the approval processes for onshore wind energy, solar energy, and energy storage systems. This legislation implements the EU Renewable Energy Directive RED III (EU 2023/2413). The new regulations are designed to simplify and speed up the planning and approval of projects within designated acceleration zones.

Acceleration zones: streamlining approval procedures

A key feature of the new legislation is the creation of acceleration zones for wind and solar energy projects. Within these designated areas, the approval processes will be simplified and expedited. This means that projects located within these zones can be approved more quickly under the new provisions of the Wind Energy Land Use Act. The regulations for establishing these zones will be incorporated into the Building Code and Spatial Planning Act.

EU RED III Directive: objectives and measures

The revised Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of renewable energy requires that the share of renewable energy in the EU’s gross final energy consumption be increased to at least 42.5% by 2030. To achieve this ambitious goal, the directive includes comprehensive measures to speed up the approval processes for renewable energy projects. In addition to acceleration zones, other projects outside these zones will also benefit from faster approval processes through amendments to the Federal Immission Control Act.

Importance of the legislation for the energy transition

Accelerating the expansion of renewable energy is a central goal of the current coalition government. The newly approved legislation represents a crucial step towards a sustainable and future-proof energy system. By simplifying the approval procedures, the legislation will facilitate the rapid deployment of wind and solar energy projects, making a significant contribution to meeting climate goals.