Key elements of the package:
Permitting amendments:
• Restricts governments' ability to designate no-go areas for renewables
• Accelerates the award of land permits for stand-alone storage and hybridisation of renewable energy plants with battery storage
• Mandates the creation of a digital platform for permitting
TEN-E amendments:
• Establishes a central EU scenario for electricity and hydrogen transmission network planning
• Creates eight energy highways
• Prioritises the energy efficiency first principle
Grid connection guidance:
• Recognises the need for grid transparency, digitalisation and flexibility across all voltage levels
• Places strong emphasis on hybrid systems, energy storage and grid-friendly projects
• Suggests introducing dynamic and time-of-use tariffs
“Member states now have clear instructions on how to design effective rules for connecting grid-friendly projects like hybrid solar-plus-storage projects and remunerate users of flexible connection agreements. This publication will help Europe make better use of the grid hardware that we have,” said Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe.
Eurelectric report outlines technologies to ease renewable grid integration
The European Commission has also made the long-overdue move to introduce targeted permitting legislation for energy storage. This means that Europe will be able to connect battery storage faster, whether as hybrid plants with solar or stand-alone. “This is a critical step toward increasing battery storage tenfold in Europe by 2030,” Hemetsberger added. REScoop.eu, the European federation of energy communities, also welcomed the package, in particular the introduction of prioritisation schemes for grid connection. (hcn)
