Achieving the benefits of NZIA objectives require improving Europe’s deployment of clean energy infrastructure

The Clean Air Task Force asserts that while the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) strengthens the EU's manufacturing capabilities for net-zero technologies, the slow pace of infrastructure deployment—such as power lines and pipelines—could become a "fatal bottleneck." The authors propose three primary adaptations of NZIA policies for infrastructure: integrating clean energy infrastructure into spatial planning and mapping, implementing upper limits on permitting timelines for non-renewable net-zero technologies like advanced nuclear, and establishing "one-stop shop" administrative agencies to streamline permitting processes, citing Denmark as a potential model.

• The slow deployment of enabling clean energy infrastructure, including power lines, pipelines for carbon dioxide and clean fuels, and battery facilities, threatens to limit the effectiveness of the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA).
• To optimize land use and minimize environmental impacts, the European Commission should expand the NZIA's spatial planning approach to include "go-to areas" for nuclear, hydrogen, and carbon capture infrastructure, while prioritizing brownfields.
• Permitting delays are a significant barrier; for example, as of 2022, the EU had four times more wind capacity in permitting than under construction, with projects in Italy and France taking an average of five years to come online.
• The EU should extend the NZIA's fast-track permitting and "net-zero strategic projects" designation to non-renewable net-zero technologies, such as advanced nuclear, to increase energy security and decarbonization options.
• Implementing a "one-stop shop"—a single agency responsible for managing permitting requests—could reduce the administrative complexity that currently serves as the primary barrier to renewable energy deployment across EU Member States.

APA

Breckel, A., & Pavia, N. (2023). Achieving the benefits of NZIA objectives require improving Europe’s deployment of clean energy infrastructure. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2023/05/achieving-benefits-nzia-objectives-require-improving-europes-deployment-clean-energy-infrastructure/

Chicago

Breckel, Alex, and Nicole Pavia. Achieving the benefits of NZIA objectives require improving Europe’s deployment of clean energy infrastructure. Clean Air Task Force, 2023. https://www.catf.us/2023/05/achieving-benefits-nzia-objectives-require-improving-europes-deployment-clean-energy-infrastructure/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Breckel |first1=Alex |last2=Pavia |first2=Nicole |title=Achieving the benefits of NZIA objectives require improving Europe’s deployment of clean energy infrastructure |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=24 May 2023 |url=https://www.catf.us/2023/05/achieving-benefits-nzia-objectives-require-improving-europes-deployment-clean-energy-infrastructure/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{breckel2023achieving, author = {Breckel, Alex and Pavia, Nicole}, title = {{Achieving the benefits of NZIA objectives require improving Europe’s deployment of clean energy infrastructure}}, publisher = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2023}, month = may, url = {https://www.catf.us/2023/05/achieving-benefits-nzia-objectives-require-improving-europes-deployment-clean-energy-infrastructure/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }