Activities of Nils TORVALDS related to 2022/0160(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Renewable Energy, Energy Performance of Buildings and Energy Efficiency Directives: amendments (REPowerEU) (debate)
Opinions (1)
OPINION on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources, Directive 2010/31/EU on the energy performance of buildings and Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency
Amendments (19)
Amendment 14 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) Member States should designate as renewables go-to areas those areas that are particularly suitable to develop renewable energy projects, differentiating between technologies, and where the deployment of the specific type of renewable energy sources is not expected to have a significant environmental impact. In the designation of renewables go-to areas, Member States should avoid protected areas to the extent possible and consider restoration plans. Member States may designate renewable go-to areas specific for one or more types of renewable energy plants and should indicate the type or types of renewable energy that are suitable to be produced in each renewable go-to area. Or. en (Recital 9 (EU) 2018/2001, 2010/31, 2012/27)
Amendment 16 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 11
Recital 11
(11) Following the adoption of the plan or plans designating renewables go-to areas, Member States should monitor the significant environmental effects of the implementation of plans and programmes in order, inter alia, to identify at an early stage unforeseen adverse effects, and to be able to undertake appropriate remedial action, in accordance with Directive 2001/42/EC. Or. en (Recital 11 (EU) 2018/2001, 2010/31, 2012/27)
Amendment 20 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12
Recital 12
(12) The provisions of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters23 (‘the Aarhus Convention’)¨ regarding access to information, public participation in decision-making, and access to justice in environmental matters, in particular the provisions relating to public participation and to access to justice remain applicable, where relevant. __________________ 23 Council Decision 2005/370/EC of 17 February 2005 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Community, of the Convention on access to information, public participation in decision-making and access to justice in environmental matters (OJ L 124, 17.5.2005, p. 1). Or. en (Recital 12, (EU) 2018/2001, 2010/31, 2012/27)
Amendment 26 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) The designation of renewables go- to areas should allow renewable energy plants, their grid connection as well as co- located energy storage facilities located in these areas to benefit from predictability and streamlined administrative procedures. In particular, projects located in renewable go-to areas should benefit from accelerated administrative procedures, including a tacit agreement in case of a lack of response by the competent authority on an administrative step by the established deadline, unless the specific project is subject to an environmental impact assessment. These projects should also benefit from clearly delimited deadlines and legal certainty as regards the expected outcome of the procedure. Following the application for projects in a renewables go- to area, Member States should carry out a fast screening of such applications with the aim to identify if any of such projects is highly likely to give rise to significant unforeseen adverse effects in view of the environmental sensitivity of the geographic area where they are located that were not identified during the environmental assessment of the plan or plans designating renewables go-to areas carried out in accordance with Directive 2001/42/EC. All projects located in renewables go-to areas should be deemed approved at the end of such screening process. Only if Member States have clear evidence to consider that a specific project is highly likely to give rise to such significant unforeseen adverse effects, Member States should, after motivating such decision, subject such project to an environmental assessment in accordance with Directive 2011/92/EC and, where relevant, Directive 92/43/EEC25 . Given the need to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy sources, such assessment should be carried out within six months. __________________ 25 Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the convervation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (OJ L 206, 22.7.1992). Or. en (Recital 15 (EU) 2018/2001, 2010/31, 2012/27)
Amendment 40 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) Renewable energy sources are crucial to fight climate change, reduce energy prices, decrease the Union’s dependence on fossil fuels and ensure the Union’s security of supply. For the purposes of the relevant Union environmental legislation, in the necessary case-by-case assessments to ascertain whether a plant for the production of energy from renewable sources, its connection to the grid, the related grid itself or storage assets is of overriding public interest in a particular case, Member States should presume these plants and their related infrastructure as being of overriding public interest and serving public health and safety, except where there is clear evidence that these projects have major adverse effects on the environment which cannot be mitigated or compensated. Considering such plants as being of overriding public interest and serving public health and safety would allow such projects to benefit from a simplified assessment. Or. en (Recital 22 (EU) 2018/2001, 2010/31, 2012/27)
Amendment 51 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 9a
Article 2 – paragraph 2 – point 9a
(9a) ’renewables go-to area’ means a specific location, whether on land or sea, which has been designated by a Member State as particularly suitable for the installation of plants for the production of energy from renewable sources, other than biomass combustion plants. or small hydropower plants. Or. en (Directive 2018/2001, Article 2)
Amendment 94 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 3 a (new)
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 15c – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a – indent 2
Article 15c – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point a – indent 2
— exclude Natura 2000 sites and nature parks and reserves, the identified bird migratory routes, areas subject to restoration measures, as well as other areas identified based on sensitivity maps and the tools referred to in the next point, except for artificial and built surfaces located in those areas such as rooftops, parking areas or transport infrastructure.
Amendment 102 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 15c – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b
Article 15c – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 – point b
(b) Establish appropriate rules for the designated renewable go-to areas, including on the mitigation measures to be adopted for the installation of renewable energy plants, co-located energy storage facilities, as well as assets necessary for their connection to the grid, in order to avoid or, if not possible, to significantly reduce the negative environmental impacts that may arise. Where appropriate, Member States shall ensure that appropriate mitigation measures are applied to prevent the situations described in Articles 6(2) and 12(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC, Article 5 of Directive 2009/147/EEC and Article 4(1)(a)(i) and (iiof Directive 2000/60/EC and to avoid deterioration and achieve good status or potential in accordance with Article 4(1) of Directive 2000/60/EC. Such rules shall be targeted to the specificities of each identified renewable go-to area, the renewable energy technology or technologies to be deployed in each area and the identified environmental impacts. Compliance with such rules and the implementation of the appropriate mitigation measures by the individual projects shall result in the presumption that projects are not in breach of those provisions without prejudice to paragraphs 4 and 5 of Article 16a. Where novel mitigation measures to prevent as much as possible the killing or disturbance of species protected under Council Directive 92/43/EEC and Directive 2009/147/EEC, or any other environmental impact, have not been widely tested as regards their effectiveness, Member States may allow their use for one or several pilot projects for a limited time period, provided that the effectiveness of such measures is closely monitored and appropriate steps are taken immediately if they do not prove to be effective. .
Amendment 107 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 15c – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 15c – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Member States shall explain in the plan the assessment made to identify each designated renewables go-to area on the basis of the criteria set out in point (a) and to identify appropriate mitigation measures.
Amendment 112 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 5
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 15c – paragraph 2
Article 15c – paragraph 2
(2) Before its adoption, the plan or plans designating renewables go-to areas shall be subject to an environmental assessment carried out in accordance with the conditions set out in Directive 2001/42/EC, and where applicable, if including artificial and built surfaces located in Natura 2000 sites,if likely to have significant impacts ion thoseNatura 2000 sites, to the appropriate assessment in accordance to Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC.
Amendment 149 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 16 a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Article 16 a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 1
Without prejudice to paragraphs 4 and 5, by derogation from Article 4(2) of Directive 2011/92/EU, and Annex II, points 3(a), (b), (d), (h), (i), and 6(c) alone or in conjunction with point 13(a) to that Directive as far as this concerns renewable energy projects, new applications for renewable energy plants, except for biomass combustion plants or small hydropower plants, including the repowering of plants, in already designated renewables go-to areas for the respective technology, co-located storage facilities as well as their connection to the grid, shall be exempted from the requirement to carry out a dedicated environmental impact assessment under Article 2(1) of Directive 2011/92/EU, provided that these projects comply with the rules and measures set out in accordance with Article 15c(1), point (b). The exemption from the application of Directive 2011/92/EU above shall not apply to projects which are likely to have significant effects on the environment in another Member State or where a Member State likely to be significantly affected so requests, as provided for in Article 7 of the said Directive.
Amendment 156 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 16 a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
Article 16 a – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
By derogation from Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC, the plants referred to in the first subparagraph, shall not be subject to an assessment of their implications for Natura 2000 sites. , provided that these projects comply with the rules and measures set out in accordance with Article15c(1), point (b). Or. en (Directive (EU) 2018/2001, Article 16 a – paragraph 3)
Amendment 161 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 16a – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
Article 16a – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 1
The competent authorities of Member States shall carry out a screening of the applications referred to in paragraph 3. Such screening shall aim to identify if any of such projects is highly likely to give rise to significant unforeseen adverse effects in view of the environmental sensitivity of the geographical areas where they are located, that were not identified and mitigated during the environmental assessment of the plan or plans designating renewables go-to areas carried out in accordance with Directive 2001/42/EC and, if relevant, with Directive 92/43/EEC. The screening carried out for the repowering of projects shall be limited to the potential impacts stemming from the change or extension compared to the original project. Or. en (Directive (EU) 2018/2001, Article 16a – paragraph 4)
Amendment 166 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 16a – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
Article 16a – paragraph 4 – subparagraph 2
For the purpose of such screening, the project developer shall provide information on the characteristics of the project, on its potential impact on the environment, on its compliance with the rules and measures identified according to Article 15c (1), points (b) and (c), for the specific go-to area, on any additional measures adopted by the project and how these measures address environmental impacts. Such screening shall be finalised within 30 days from the date of submission of the applications for new renewable energy plants, with the exception of applications for installations with an electrical capacity of less than 150 kW. For such installations and for new applications for the repowering of plants, the screening phase shall be finalized within 15 days. Or. en (Directive (EU) 2018/2001, Article 16a – paragraph 4)
Amendment 171 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 16a – paragraph 5
Article 16a – paragraph 5
(5) Following the screening process, the applications referred to in paragraph 3 shall be authorised from an environmental perspective without requiring any express decision from the competent authority, unless the competent authority adopts an administrativecompetent authority issue a decision, duly motivated and based on clear evidence, thatwhether a specific project is highly likely to give rise to significant unforeseen adverse effects in view of the environmental sensitivity of the geographic area where they are located that cannot be mitigated by the measures identified in the plan or plans designating go-to areas or proposed by the developer for the project. Such decision shall be made available to the public. Such projProjects likely to give rise to significant adverse effects shall be subject to an assessment in accordance with Directive 2011/92/EC and, if applicable, to an assessment under Article 6(3) of Directive 92/43/EEC, which shall be carried out within six months following the screening decision.
Amendment 173 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 7
Amendment 187 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 16b – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Article 16b – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1
Where an environmental assessment is required under Directive 2011/92/EU or Directive 92/43/EEC, it shall be carried out in a single procedure that combines all relevant assessments for a given project. When any such environmental impact assessment is required, the competent authority, taking into account the information provided by the developer, shall issue an opinion on the scope and level of detail of the information to be included by the developer in the environmental impact assessment report, of which the scope shall not be extended subsequentlymore than once, when duly justified by the relevant authorities. Where the specific projects have adopted appropriate mitigation measures, any killing or disturbance of the species protected under Article 12(1) of Directive 92/43/EEC and Article 5 of Directive 2009/147/EC shall not be considered deliberate. Where novel mitigation measures to prevent as much as possible the killing or disturbance of species protected under Council Directive 92/43/EEC and Directive 2009/147/EEC, or any other environmental impact, have not been widely tested as regards their effectiveness, Member States may allow their use for one or several pilot projects for a limited time period, provided that the effectiveness of such measures is closely monitored and appropriate steps are taken immediately if they do not prove to be effective. The permit-granting process for the repowering of projects and for new installations with an electrical capacity of less than 150 kW, co-located storage facilities as well as their grid connection, located outside renewables go-to areas shall not exceed one year including environmental assessments where required by relevant legislation. Where duly justified on the ground of extraordinary circumstances, this one-year period may be extended by up to three months. Member States shall clearly inform the developers about the extraordinary circumstances that justified the extension.
Amendment 190 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 8
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 16b – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Article 16b – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2
Amendment 209 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 10
Directive (EU) 2018/2001
Article 16d – paragraph 1
Article 16d – paragraph 1
By [three months from entry into force], until climate neutrality is achieved, Member States shall ensure that, in the permit-granting process, the planning, construction and operation of plants for the production of energy from renewable sources, their connection to the grid and the related grid itself and storage assets are presumedmay be as being in the overriding public interest and serving public health and safety when balancing legal interests in the individual cases for the purposes of Articles 6(4) and 16(1)(c) of Directive 92/43/EEC, Article 4(7) of Directive 2000/60/EC and Article 9(1)(a) of Directive 2009/147/EC. Or. en (Directive (EU) 2018/2001, Article 16d)