The European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy reached an agreement to include all types of nuclear energy in the list of green technologies for the revival of EU industry.
Such a list is part of the law on industry with zero emissions, which should promote the production of low-carbon technologies in Europe, reports EURACTIV.
It is noted that the European Commission proposed two lists, one of which included so-called strategic technologies. A domestic production target of 40% and accelerated permit procedures were set for them. However, the MEPs decided to introduce a single list of low-carbon technologies that are subject to regulatory benefits.
The material said that the compromise list includes technologies:
- renewable energy;
- nuclear fission and fusion;
- energy storage;
- carbon capture and storage (CCS);
- infrastructure for hydrogen transportation and electrolyzers.
EURACTIV explained that the initial list included only innovative nuclear power technologies of the third and fourth generations. However, the new one covers all types of nuclear power. All technologies from the list will have certain benefits, namely accelerated permitting procedures for industrial projects, which must be implemented within 18 months. And also 9-12 months for those that are of overwhelming public interest.
EU legislators added that the criteria for classifying projects as strategic can still change. For example, whether components such as inverters, solar cells, cathodes and anodes for batteries must be produced in the EU.
It is noted that the European Commission's goal of producing in the bloc 40% of the technologies necessary to achieve climate and energy goals may be reduced to 25%.
The material said that MEPs also supported the proposal to create industrial valleys with zero emissions, which would combine production activities for related low-carbon technologies. This should minimize the environmental impact of industrial repurposing while promoting industrial synergy and maximizing economic and social impact.
According to legislators, such industrial valleys will be prioritized in less developed regions or regions of socio-economic transformation, in particular coal mining.
It is noted that the members of the European Parliament decided to cancel the European Commission's procedure for updating the list of zero-emission technologies. They decided that the EC would be responsible for making proposals based on the technologies listed by EU member states in their National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), which are updated every year. The list will then be updated by means of a delegated act, i.e. a special accelerated legislative procedure subject to review by the European Parliament.
The material added that the official vote in the parliamentary committee is scheduled for October 12, after which the plenary vote will take place in November. Some debate is expected in the committee before consensus is reached, particularly on funding.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that in March, the European Commission developed a law on industry with zero emissions, which is designed to speed up permitting procedures for key projects in 5 areas of green technologies.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, the European Commission was sued the EU due to the inclusion of natural gas and nuclear power in the classification of environmentally sustainable activities for investors – the green taxonomy.
