On the two-year anniversary of REPowerEU the European Commission has launched new steps to further accelerate the deployment of wind energy.
These key new initiatives comprise guidance and recommendations on renewable auction design, permitting, the designation of renewables acceleration areas and a digital platform on tender planning.
On auction design the Commission has clarified non-price criteria should be technology-specific.
Pre-qualification rules should include cyber and data security and responsible business conduct, and others such as “innovation” should be used as award standards.
It also stipulates supply chain resilience criteria should be applied as soon as possible to strengthen Europe’s clean tech manufacturing.
“Europe’s moving away from wind auctions based solely on price. Good. Non-price award criteria reward those projects that bring the biggest value to consumers and society,” said WindEurope chief executive Giles Dickson.
“Tighter pre-qualification criteria help raise the bar on what sort of turbines get built,” he added.
The Commission also told Member States proper indexation of auction prices and penalties for non-completion of projects are crucial for successful auctions.
However, WindEurope said the Commission has “missed a trick” by not telling Member States to limit negative bidding as negative bids add costs which have to be passed on to consumers and the supply chain.
On permitting the Commission has spelled out how Member States should apply the new Renewable Energy Directive to simplify rules and procedures.
“They’ve got to set up one-stop shops and completely digitalise their permitting procedures by November 2025,” stated WindEurope.
“And they should have a single contact point to oversee this and tackle issues faced by those developing projects and the related infrastructure,” it added.
The new Renewables Development Platform will be a useful digital tool where industry and governments can see exactly what auctions are happening across Europe – where, when and for what volumes, according to the trade body.