An energy ministry draft bill for the simplification of RES licensing procedures, now undergoing public consultation, has been generally well received, but wind energy project investors have pointed out some concerns.

These include a deadline automatically terminating licenses. Once investors have obtained producer certificates – through a swift online process planned to replace production licenses – they will have three years to obtain and accept finalized connection offers. This three-year deadline period begins ticking as of June 1, 2020 for existing licenses.

A retention fee will be limited to 50 percent of levels concerning 2017, 2018 and 2019. According to the draft bill, this term also applies for special projects such as interconnected wind energy facilities and hybrid projects combining RES output and storage, as well as projects for which letters of guarantee concerning connection terms have already been issued.

In addition, wind energy capacity measurements will not be needed unless projects are categorized as special-case projects, according to the new licensing regulations. This term, it is feared by critics, could prompt investors to occupy grid capacities without sufficient preparations.