The European Commission is proposing that at least 40 percent of a number of strategically important green technologies should be manufactured in the EU. This will be done, among other things, through faster permits for factories that manufacture, for example, wind turbines. The goal is part of the so-called Net-Zero Industry Act. It was presented at a press conference in Brussels on Thursday.
- We need to quickly scale up the green energy transition, says European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The proposal is aimed at a number of technologies that are of great importance for the reduction of greenhouse gases. For example, production facilities within wind energy, solar energy and batteries should be given priority as so-called Net Zero projects. This will mean that the case processing time will be reduced to 9-12 months.
- We will create the best conditions for the sectors that are crucial for us to achieve climate neutrality in 2050. These are technologies such as wind turbines, heat pumps, solar panels, renewable hydrogen and CO2 storage. Demand is growing in Europe and globally. Now we are acting to ensure that we can meet more of this demand in Europe, says Ursula von der Leyen.
DI: High time for an EU plan
At the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI), CEO Lars Sandahl Sørensen emphasizes that "cumbersome case processing processes" must be cleaned up, so that it will be easier for companies to get green technologies on the market.
- It is high time that the EU comes up with a plan that boosts the development and implementation of green solutions in Europe. This applies to new energy technologies, such as green hydrogen, hydrogen and batteries, where the EU risks being left behind in global competition, says Lars Sandahl Sørensen.
Seen through Danish eyes, however, it is a pity that green technologies such as energy efficiency and biotech solutions are not included in the proposal. For example, Denmark is far ahead in terms of energy efficiency in buildings thanks to companies like Danfoss.
- I cannot understand why energy efficiency and biotech solutions, which are absolutely crucial in the green transition, do not have a more prominent place in the proposal. There is a lack of ambition and a strategy in these areas if the EU is not to fall too far behind, says Lars Sandahl Sørensen.
Further negotiations await
The Net-Zero Industry Act must now be discussed with the EU Parliament and the EU countries before it can enter into force. DI announces that in this connection it will work to include additional technologies in the proposal.
The EU Commission will also establish a hydrogen bank. It will help with procurement to ensure that the EU becomes a centre for green hydrogen. This is stated by the Executive Vice-President of the EU Commission, Frans Timmermans.
- When I started talking about hydrogen, there were people in my staff who were unsure what it was. But hydrogen is one of the most dynamic green energy areas. We need to move quickly, because that is what is happening in Asia and the USA, says Frans Timmermans.
/ritzau/
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