The practice of splitting up renewable energy macro-projects
28.3.2023
Question for written answer E-001052/2023
to the Commission
Rule 138
Idoia Villanueva Ruiz (The Left)
Law 24/2013[1]of 26 December 2013 regulating the electricity sector in Spain provides that the state must take charge of processing projects for wind and photovoltaic farms of greater than 50 MW, while projects below that threshold are to be processed by the Autonomous Communities. This procedure has led to a disorderly roll out of renewable resource facilities at differing speeds.
Regulation (EU) 2022/2577[2]calls on Member States to identify specific areas where renewable energy facilities can be installed and for a strategic environmental assessment to be made. The practice of splitting up macro-projects between the various Autonomous Communities impedes zoning, prevents structured roll-out planning and is resulting in the accumulation of piecemeal renewable energy farms, without their cumulative impact being taken into account. An investigation by El País[3]has found that, in Aragon, 58 macro-projects were split into 163 fragments of farms of less than 51 MW, thereby avoiding these projects being processed by the state.
- 1.Does the Commission not consider the splitting-up of renewable energy macro-projects to violate EU law, since this presents an obstacle to planning and zoning?
- 2.What steps will the Commission take to prevent the fragmentation of macro-projects, which prevents the social and environmental impacts of renewable energy facilities from being comprehensively assessed?
Submitted: 28.3.2023
- [1] Law 24/2013 of 26 December on the Electricity Sector: https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2013-13645
- [2] Regulation 2022/2577 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32022R2577
- [3] ‘Ghost’ macro-projects in Aragon: 58 wind and solar farm projects split up and bereft of state guarantee. El País, 27.3.2023: https://elpais.com/clima-y-medio-ambiente/2023-03-27/macroproyectos-fantasma-en-aragon-58-parques-eolicos-y-solares-troceados-que-esquivan-el-aval-estatal.html.