Newsletters

On 10 December, the European Commission presented the Energy Grids Package, a set of proposals intended to simplify and shorten permitting procedures for infrastructure projects across the European Union, including electric vehicle charging stations, grid connections and related energy infrastructure.

Under the new proposals, Member States would not be permitted to require any administrative authorisation, aside from grid connection consent, for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations with a total installed capacity of 100 kW or less. The Commission also proposes that for larger charging stations, the full permitting process, encompassing connection permits and required environmental assessments, should be completed within six months. The text also introduces specific exemptions from environmental assessment requirements for these installations, subject to certain important exceptions. Charging stations located outside protected areas will no longer routinely require comprehensive environmental impact assessments, which should considerably speed up the permitting process. The legislative package also goes beyond charging infrastructure and includes amendments to planning and permitting rules for electricity grids and renewable energy projects, with the goal of improving coordination and reducing administrative burden on project developers.

The proposals will now be discussed within the European Parliament and the Council. CLECAT welcomes the Commission’s effort in the package as a step in the right direction. However, we note that additional measures will be necessary to ensure that transport companies can reliably access adequate grid capacity for depot charging, particularly as the sector prepares for wider deployment of battery-electric vans and trucks.

Source: European Commission