Statement on the implementation of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III)

With the draft bill for the implementation of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), the German government aims to accelerate planning and approval procedures for offshore wind. A key element is the designation of so-called acceleration areas in the site development plan, where, among other things, the environmental impact assessment (EIA) is to be simplified or eliminated.

The German Offshore Wind Energy Association (BWO) welcomes the rapid implementation of the directive and the goal of faster procedures. However, the association does not expect the elimination of the EIA to actually accelerate expansion, but rather sees the greatest bottlenecks still in grid expansion.

In its statement, the BWO recommends retaining the EIA as an option and enshrining voluntary environmental documents in law. This will better reconcile planning security and nature conservation. Furthermore, the BWO calls for legislative adjustments to better utilize the potential of green hydrogen at sea.

Read the full statement here: 

BWO statement on the implementation of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED III)