“If it takes 9-10 years to get a permit for offshore or onshore wind energy, we will never reach the level needed for renewable energy,” said EU climate policy chief Frans Timmermans at a press conference.

On Wednesday (18 May), the European Commission unveiled plans to massively increase the use of solar energy and accelerate the implementation of large renewable energy projects in the EU.

Under the REPower initiative, Europe wants to end its dependence on Russian fossil fuels by 2027. To achieve this, the EU has recognised that the bloc must reduce energy consumption and maximise the use of renewable energy.

“If we can really reduce energy consumption while at the same time deploying renewable energy sources faster, we will reduce emissions even faster than before,” explained Frans Timmermans at the press conference. (...)