Entrance through the big door. New Minister of Industry and Tourism Jordi Hereuthis Thursday he chaired his first Council on Competitiveness, Internal Market and Industry. European Union Together agreement Within the scope of ‘Net Zero Emission Regulation’ Increasing Europe’s clean technology productionLike solar panels waves wind turbinesSimplifying authorization procedures, prioritizing strategic projects and diversifying the supply of strategic technology to the European Union.
The ultimate goal is to close the scope. 40% social consumption own production facing “strong pressure” european industry especially with subsidies in third countries Chinese, Although the agreement is much less ambitious in this respect than expected. “This regulation strengthens one of the EU’s main priorities” Spanish presidencyMay Europe win strategic autonomy At his first press conference in Brussels, Hereu thanked “the work of the Spanish delegation” during this time, stating that they are less dependent on other countries to achieve this energy transition. he Parliament and Commission for later entry into force.
Twenty Seven is determined diversify supply of strategic technologies public procurement They don’t just focus on the subject. not the price of the offer, but also its qualityfeatures included social, environmental and innovative. Although the main point of the agreement is that Member States Criteria other than price inside renewable energy tenders; But ministers annoyed this measure is one annual percentage between 20% of auction volume.
However, upon request France There will be an increase advancing at this rateAs Hereu explains. “France offered to add an article to the final agreement” gradual increase your ambition to establish Criteria other than price In energy tenders. There will be a gradual increase and we have agreed for this purpose. “We will create a period in which this rate will increase, but currently it remains at 20 percent,” he said.
The issue of ‘anti-China’ clauses has sparked some controversy European solar industryhighly depends on modules Chinese photovoltaicsHe warns that an Asian veto could jeopardize jobs on the continent, given that 90% of jobs in the industry are related to planning and installation, and manufacturing represents only a small proportion. Euractiv.
One and a half year leaves
The council also proposes to “simplify” grants. Permits for production projects of these technologies –currently their average duration is between two and seven years, which is expected to be reduced from 9 months to a maximum of 12 months. one and half year— and “prioritize” strategic projects. These measures prevent “improper delegation” of powers.additional obstacleIn such cases, it may cause the production capacity of technologies to increase and often cause harm. batteriesIt also requires a huge amount of investment giga factories to achieve “expected economies of scale.”
On the other hand, ministers increased the technologies considered strategic for the transition to a carbon-free economy from eight to ten. To those selected by the European Commission —solar and photovoltaic technologies, wind energy, batteries, heat pumps and geothermal energy, electrolyzers and fuel plates, biogas and biomethane, grid technologies and carbon capture and storage— nuclear power plants and sustainable alternative fuels added this Thursday.
The list of net zero emission technologies has also been expanded not strategic According to the community body, it will include biotechnological solutions for climate and energy, “other nuclear technologies and transformative industrial technologies for energy-intensive industries.” Additionally, it includes an appendix with a non-exhaustive list of products and components used primarily in the production of net zero emissions technologies.
More emphasis on SMEs
On this first visit to Brussels as the group’s main representative Spanish industrial policyHereu wanted to underline the importance of this. small and medium-sized businesses He promoted the idea that SMEs could “participate in and benefit from green policies” in this ‘clean reindustrialization’. “We have to to integrate In the value chain of this new industry SMEs to be heroes “In the formation of this value chain,” said Hereu, giving a message signaling where the shots will go in this legislative body.