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Acceleration of approval procedures for renewable energies

Client

European Commission – DG ENER

Year

2025

Partner

COWI A/S, Eclareon


How can the expansion of renewable energies in the EU be accelerated?

Our project with COWI A/S and Eclareon for the Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER) of the European Commission aims to help EU countries overcome obstacles to the expansion of renewable energies. To this end, we have examined approval and administrative processes at national, regional and local level.

The goal: Faster and shorter approval procedures

The final report identifies eight priority areas in which member states should take measures to simplify and accelerate approvals:

  • Faster and shorter approval procedures
  • Facilitating public and community participation
  • Improving internal coordination
  • Clear, transparent and digitised processes
  • Adequate human resources and skills
  • Better site identification and planning for projects
  • Easy grid connection and efficient grid usage
  • Innovative projects

Our approach

Our insights come from a comprehensive analysis in all 27 EU member states, which focussed on current and planned measures to accelerate renewable energy projects. In addition, we have created a knowledge database of best practices for approval procedures that serves as a valuable resource for member states.

The project comprised the following steps:

  • Review of measures to accelerate the approval process
  • Support for expert meetings to promote the exchange of best practices between member states
  • Events for stakeholders to discuss challenges and initiatives to optimise approval procedures

Links and downloads

Study (EU website)

Project team: Jens Hobohm, Leonard Krampe, Saskia Lengning, Tommaso Luisari, Paul Wendring

Last update: 18 February 2025

Do you have questions?

Your contact at Prognos

Jens Hobohm

Partner, Director

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Leonard Krampe

Project Manager

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