all projects

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

View profile

Leonard Krampe

Project Manager

View profile

Mehr Studien & Projekte zu diesem Thema

More studies & projects on this topic

Carbon management study for the state of Brandenburg

2025
| Project

Prognos examined for the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor, Energy and Climate Protection of the State of Brandenburg what role CO2 capture, usage and storage could play in the state.

International electricity price comparison

2025
| Project

Prognos compared international industrial electricity prices for the Austrian electricity industry. Based on this analysis, we also developed recommendations for government instruments to reduce electricity costs.

Design and implementation of the Resilience Expo

ongoing
| Project

Prognos is supporting the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of the Environment in organising, implementing and establishing the world's first trade exhibition for the climate adaptation industry.

Overall impact of climate change, mitigation and adaptation on the German economy

2025
| Project

In an expert report for the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, we and GWS have for the first time estimated the economic impact of these three areas.

Evaluation of the Federal Funding for Efficient Buildings (BEG)

ongoing
| Project

On behalf of the BMWK, we evaluate the impact of the BEG in the funding period 2021 – 2025 together with ifeu, ITG, and FIW.

Extra-high voltage line Ganderkesee – St. Hülfe

2023
| Project

Grid operator TenneT has put an important power line into operation in Lower Saxony. Prognos supported the communication for the project.

Expert opinion on the implementation of the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive

ongoing
| Project

The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs has commissioned Prognos and its partners to develop a plan for implementing the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive in Germany.

Policy scenarios for the 2025-2027 greenhouse gas projections

ongoing
| Project

Prognos and its partners support the preparation of the German government's 2025 to 2027 greenhouse gas projection reports.

13th Energy Transition Monitoring

2025
| Project

Primary energy consumption in Germany has fallen by a total of ten percent in the last two years. However, not all sectors have been successful.

Support for the progress reports of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP)

ongoing
| Project

Prognos will support the Federal Ministry of Economics in preparing the NECP progress reports until 2027.

About us

Prognos – Providing Orientation.

Prognos is one of the oldest economic research centres in Europe. Founded at the University of Basel, Prognos experts have been conducting research for a wide range of clients from the public and private sectors since 1959 – politically independent, scientifically sound.

Learn more