– Will involve a big change – E24

The EU’s renewables directive requires a fast track for new power. NVE fears people’s acceptance.

The EU’s revised renewables directive will speed up the development of renewable energy.

It is now under consultation in Norway. The deadline for submitting submissions expires in just a few weeks – April 19.

Something that may be disputed is the EU’s demand for shorter deadlines for renewable energy. Processes which today can take 6–7 yearssuch as the processing of wind power, according to the EU, must take place in 1–2 years.

The short deadlines shall apply in particular to our own “acceleration areas” “acceleration areas”“acceleration areas” for renewable energy are areas that the authorities must identify as suitable. Early impact assessments must be carried out so that the actors receive faster treatment when they apply for a licence. Gray areas must be prioritized, and Natura 2000 areas and national conservation areas are exempt. for renewable energy. The Norwegian Directorate of Water Resources and Energy (NVE) requires thorough assessments, according to a consultation statement in the case.

“The requirements for deadlines in license processing and designation of so-called acceleration areas for the development of renewable power will entail a major change in the license processing process”, writes NVE.

Concerned about trust

NVE points out that license processing takes time because there are strict requirements for local participation, investigations and hearings. Power developments often lead to major conflicts of interest, they point out.

“There is therefore a requirement for thorough democratic processes and professional assessments to ensure that NVE’s recommendations and decisions are of sufficient quality. The requirements are also seen as essential to ensure trust and legitimacy in the decisions that are made”, writes NVE.

The EU wants a deadline for the processing of applications in acceleration areas of 12 months on land and up to two years for offshore power generation. Outside the acceleration areas, the deadlines shall be two and three years, respectively.

“It will involve a major change in relation to the current process”, writes NVE.

The Conservatives want progress

Storting representative Nikolai Astrup (H) fears that power shortages will threaten Norway’s climate goals.

– There is a need for significantly faster processing times if we are to be close to building out sufficient renewable energy in the next few years, he says.

– If you want to go down to the level the EU sets out to, it requires thorough and good treatment of the relevant areas in advance. If done right, it need not be disputed. I am concerned that NVE is so defensive in its approach, says Astrup.

– The fast tracks are problematic

Second Deputy Chair Sofie Marhaug (R) in the Storting’s Energy and Environment Committee is skeptical of the EU’s proposal for its own fast track for renewable energy.

– I would urge the government to say no to this, says Marhaug.

– These fast tracks are problematic. It is not realistic to implement this, and I do not think you will get good democratic processes if you are going to have such a quick treatment as what the EU is proposing. It was precisely to get better processes that the Storting decided to give the municipalities more influence in these matters, she says.

She believes that it is a bureaucratic idea that one should be able to stake out areas where power can be developed quickly, and fears that the haste could, among other things, affect the nature mapping.

– I also believe that there will be greater opposition if this comes from the EU than if it comes from the Norwegian authorities. But both parts are problematic, she says.

IN The Hurdal platform in 2021, the governing parties Ap and Sp promised to create a comprehensive plan for Norway’s power development. In question time on 7 March this year, Energy Minister Terje Aasland said that “work with a comprehensive plan has not been started yet.”

– Can reduce acceptance

The Renewable Energy Directive requires EU member states to map areas that are suitable for new renewable energy.

The last time Norway tried this, it was not popular. In 2019, NVE presented a map of areas suitable for wind power, but the Solberg government quickly shelved the proposal.

The Liberal Party recently proposed bringing the proposal forward again, but was met with scepticism.

NVE fears that too large areas may be set aside for possible power developments.

“The perceived cumulative effect of natural encroachment from areas that are marked on the map, but not used, can reduce acceptance for the development of new power generation. This is the experience from the national framework for wind power”, writes NVE in the consultation.

“It is also problematic that large areas can be perceived as restricted to possible future power production over a long period of time”, writes the directorate.

The Renewable Energy Directive stipulates that EU countries must have an average of 42.5 per cent renewable energy by 2030, up from 23 per cent in 2022.

Criticism from wind power opponents

Motvind Norway has come out hard against the EU’s desire for urgent processes in 12 months.

– If we don’t pay close attention and say stop, Norway can slowly be drawn into a web of laws and EU rules that facilitate the large-scale consumption of nature for wind power plants that will feed power-guzzling ammonia factories and TikTok data centers, said John Fiskvik in Motvind Norge in a press release in March.

He also criticized that the renewables directive is not available in Norwegian.

The directive is available in English, Danish and Swedish.