Renewable energy supplies could surge across Europe following a breakthrough agreement to minimise local opposition to new wind, solar and electricity grid projects, announced this week by the global network of local and regional governments, Local Governments for Sustainability Europe (ICLEI).
Development time could be cut significantly for new wind, solar and electricity grid connection projects thanks to the agreement on what developers, civil society, local governments and others consider a ‘fair’ way to build.
Local objections to factors like the location, size, impacts and too few shared benefits of new building projects have been a major barrier to developments. The issue has hampered delivery of EU renewable energy targets, which are off-track in many countries.
‘Fast and Fair Renewables & Grids’ is a first-of-a-kind agreement between municipal officials, industry, civil society and other groups at European level. The four page text provides “baseline principles and criteria” for interest groups to minimise friction during the permitting and building processes.
Developers have agreed on the importance of offering community benefits, such as direct funding, electricity discounts and co-ownership, where permitted by law, as well as working with local firms. Business has also agreed that new projects should have an overall positive impact on nature and biodiversity, in principle, resolving a major point of conflict with environmental groups.
Renewable power generation must triple worldwide to address rapidly rising global temperatures, according to one estimate. The EU is planning for 42.5% renewable energy by 2030, requiring massive investment. But an EU target to grant construction permits to new wind and solar projects within two years is not achieved for onshore wind developments in most countries, with approval taking five years or longer in many cases, according to research from 2023. For solar projects, the target was met in just three of 12 countries checked and broken in nine countries, with permission taking 4 years on average in one country.
Local officials are under pressure to approve clean energy developments, but frequently have to mediate during heated disputes without adequate financing and staff. The agreement is therefore a ‘game changer’, according to ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, which led the talks on behalf of 2,500 local and regional governments.
The agreement is non-binding, but has a high chance of being followed, ICLEI said. That is because the signatories moved a long way to reach consensus during nearly 6 months of talks and have consulted with their member organisations across Europe. The text promises to deliver power projects quickly on terms all the main stakeholders can live with.
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Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 