Simpler and faster permitting procedures for manufacturing “net-zero technologies”

Did you know that the European Union has passed a The Net-Zero Industry Act that will encourage the production of technologies with a net zero emission rate?

This means that more plants will be built in Europe that will produce solar panels, wind turbines and electrolyzers for the production of hydrogen. These technologies are important for achieving the goal of climate neutrality by 2050 and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

This law is one of the measures announced by the European Union as part of its Green Deal, which is an ambitious plan to transform the European economy and society in line with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

The law also provides for the creation of the so-called valley of industries with zero net emission rate (valley). These are areas where cooperation between different industrial sectors is encouraged to reduce environmental impact and increase efficiency. Valleys should be limited in geographical and technological scope to facilitate industrial symbiosis. Each valley should have its own plan with concrete national measures to increase the attractiveness of the valley as a location for production activities. Valleys in particular should be a tool for the re-industrialization of regions, especially for regions in transition from coal.

One of the advantages of the Valley project is that it will conduct environmental impact assessments at the level of the plan, not just at the level of individual permits. This means that the overall environmental effects of the net zero manufacturing activities will be evaluated and addressed before they start. This will also make it easier and faster for the undertakings to obtain the necessary permits, as they will not have to repeat the same assessments.

Of course, this does not mean that the environmental standards will be lowered. The project will still have to comply with all the relevant Union laws on water, air, ecosystems, habitats, biodiversity and birds. These laws are essential to protect the environment and prevent or minimise any negative impacts. However, the project will also benefit from a streamlined and simplified permit granting procedure, as it will be recognised as being of public interest and having an overriding public interest, if all the conditions are met.

The Valley project is an example of how net zero manufacturing can be compatible with environmental protection and sustainable development. It is also a way to boost innovation and competitiveness in the European Union.

Net-zero technology manufacturing projects are essential for achieving the EU’s climate goals, but they can also face challenges from land use conflicts.

How can we ensure that these projects are deployed in a sustainable and efficient way?

One of the key steps is to have well-designed plans that consider the potential of net-zero technology manufacturing projects and their environmental impacts. These plans can help balance public goods and interests, reduce the risk of conflict and speed up the deployment of these projects.

Another important step is to make spatial planning data available online, so that project developers and authorities can access relevant information easily. This can help streamline the permit-granting process and avoid unnecessary delays.

The EU has also set clear time limits for the permit-granting process for net-zero technology manufacturing projects, depending on their size and capacity. These time limits are:

• 9 months for projects with a yearly manufacturing capacity of less than 1 GW.
• 12 months for projects with a yearly manufacturing capacity of more than 1 GW.

These measures aim to facilitate the development of net-zero technology manufacturing projects in the EU, while ensuring that they respect the environment and the interests of local communities.