National consultation on the development of renewable energies in Luxembourg «Einfach - Séier - Erneierbar».»
As part of the national consultation on the development of renewable energies, a meeting was held on 13 November 2024 at Senningen Castle. Organised under the theme «Einfach - Séier - Erneierbar» (Simple - Fast - Renewable), this consultation aims to define concrete measures to accelerate the development of wind power and photovoltaics in Luxembourg while simplifying administrative procedures.
Announced during the State of the Nation Address, this initiative is a priority for the Luxembourg government as part of its commitment to energy transition and decarbonisation. The meeting brought together a number of key players, including the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Crafts, the FEDIL, the Federation of Craftsmen, the Union of Luxembourg Towns and Municipalities, and the Order of Architects and Consulting Engineers (OAI), which represent those working in the field.
The discussions were opened by Prime Minister Luc Frieden, accompanied by Lex Delles, Minister for the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism, Serge Wilmes, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, and Martine Hansen, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Viticulture. They reiterated the importance of mobilising all stakeholders to remove regulatory obstacles and encourage the innovations needed for the rapid development of renewable energy sources. In this context, the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNEC) sets ambitious targets for the coming years, aiming in particular to achieve 37% of renewable energy in final consumption by 2030.
One day at the heart of a process lasting several months
This event is part of a national consultation process on the development of renewable energies in Luxembourg, which began a few months ago. This process began with a series of interviews with key players in the energy sector and representatives of the voluntary sector, enabling various points of view to be gathered and the main issues to be identified.
In the coming months, this process will continue with the creation of a working group chaired by the Ministry for the Economy and the Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity. The task of this group will be to explore and propose concrete solutions to the major challenges linked to the development of wind and photovoltaic energy in Luxembourg, with the aim of accelerating the country's energy transition. To this end, it will continue to consult the other administrations concerned and stakeholders.
There are a number of areas in which work is already underway:
- Accelerating the installation of photovoltaic panels on public buildings;
- Speeding up authorisation procedures by setting fixed deadlines;
- Digitalisation and simplification of procedures;
- The introduction of a single point of contact for renewable energy project developers;
- A review of aid allocated to local authorities;
- Continuation of the agrivoltaic concept (specific adaptations);
- The implementation of a general authorisation through the «Tool Box permitting» aimed at authorising standard wind turbines (without distinguishing between particular types).
Prime Minister Luc Frieden said: «A successful energy transition can mean lower energy prices, greater independence and enhanced competitiveness. Luxembourg needs to give itself the resources it needs to achieve its ambitious target for renewable energy. By working with local players and municipalities, we have been able to identify a number of practical ideas for reducing administrative procedures, which the government will be examining in the coming weeks.»
The Minister for the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism, Lex Delles, welcomes: «This national consultation marks an important step towards realising Luxembourg's ambitions for the development of renewable energies. In partnership with stakeholders in the sector, the government is reaffirming its commitment to rapidly developing the country's renewable energy capacity, in order to meet decarbonisation targets while strengthening national energy resilience. Our aim is to simplify procedures, so that we can do more, faster and in more places when it comes to developing renewable energies.»
The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity, Serge Wilmes, said: «The development of renewable energies and the protection of our natural environment go hand in hand. We are committed to simplifying the relevant legislation, in particular with a view to reducing the time taken to process applications and simplifying procedures. Particular emphasis will be placed on digitising procedures. The creation of a single point of contact within the Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity will aim to coordinate the work of the various administrations and speed up the decision-making process. We are embarking on the forthcoming discussions in an open and constructive manner, with the determination to make significant progress in the field of renewable energies, while respecting the natural environment.»
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Viticulture Martine Hansen said: «Agrivoltaics offers interesting prospects for combining agricultural production with renewable energy production, but it must be implemented in a way that respects our main priority: agricultural productivity. Agrivoltaics is based on a clear promise: to protect our farmland and guarantee its yield. Our aim is to find a balance that enhances the value of the land while addressing climate and energy challenges, and ensuring that we preserve our farmers» ability to produce quality food."
(from left to right) Paul Zeimet, Director, Société électrique de l'Our (SEO); Serge Wilmes, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity; Claude Seywert, Chairman and CEO, Encevo S.A.
SIP / Claude Piscitelli