RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, faces the challenging task of processing the majority of more than 1,800 renewable energy production license applications currently accumulated at the authority by June, when a new and more efficient online application platform is set to be launched.

The unprocessed applications submitted by investors, all on paper and dating as far back as 2018, represent a total capacity in excess of 29 GW.

Under the new online system, prospective RES investors will no longer require to gain production licenses. Instead, they will apply for electricity producer certificates to be issued virtually automatically – if all requirements are met – through the online procedure.

New terms introduced for the upcoming online procedure will be used to appraise the old unprocessed applications, which include bids submitted during RAE’s December cycle.

RAE and the energy ministry are making a coordinated effort for the adoption, by the authority, of a fast-track procedure promising partial automation for the old applications through an online tool. But they will still need to be looked at one by one.

Authorities will manually check if basic requirements have been met, including payment of related fees – the amount is smaller for old applications – and spatial issues, a crucial factor.