European Union directives aimed at simplifying permits for renewable energy projects have not been fully put into practice by a number of member states, EDP Chief Executive Miguel Stilwell d'Andrade said on Thursday, attributing delays to national, regional and local authorities rather than to EU-level policy.
Stilwell d'Andrade noted that the measures adopted by the EU after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine were intended to accelerate clean power investment, but several countries - including Portugal, Poland and Italy - have yet to implement the required changes. "The problem is not Europe. It’s much more up to the member states and to the regional and local governments than Europe. It’s really about execution on the ground," he told reporters.
According to the CEO, lengthy environmental permitting procedures are taking years to clear and are creating uncertainty that is delaying investment decisions across Europe. The company said earlier this year that renewable projects in Europe can require four to six years to secure permits, while construction typically takes 12 to 18 months.
Brussels has responded by opening formal proceedings. The European Commission launched infringement actions last August against 26 member states for not fully transposing its directives into national law, a step intended to compel more rapid implementation.
In response to questions about Portugal's progress, a spokesperson for the country's environment ministry said Lisbon is putting in place measures to "streamline and facilitate permitting as much as possible," and is engaging local communities early in project planning while explaining the benefits and compensation arrangements. Italy's energy ministry and a Polish government spokesperson did not provide comments in response to requests.
EDP operates globally through its renewables arm, EDP Renovaveis, which the company identifies as the world's fourth-largest wind energy producer and which has operations in 29 countries across Europe, the Americas and Asia. The Portuguese energy group has set out a plan to invest 12 billion ($13.74 billion) between 2026 and 2028, with the bulk aimed at expanding renewable capacity and a particular focus on the United States.
The investment program includes an allocation of 3.6 billion for electricity networks, with around two-thirds of that network spending earmarked for the Iberian peninsula. The firm has emphasized that while construction timelines for renewable projects are relatively short, protracted permitting timelines are the constraining factor for development in Europe.
Context and implications
- EU-level directives intended to speed renewables deployment are not translating into faster permitting on the ground in several member states.
- Protracted environmental permitting times of four to six years contrast with build phases of 12 to 18 months, creating a bottleneck that affects project timetables and investment planning.
- The European Commission has initiated infringement procedures against 26 member states to force compliance with its directives.
EDP's public comments underscore the operational impact that permitting delays can have on utilities and renewable developers, and signal potential friction between EU policy objectives and national or local implementation realities.