Provisional deal on the Net-Zero Industry Act

13 February 2024

On 6 February 2024, the Council and European Parliament reached a provisional deal on the ’net-zero-industry act’ (NZIA). BEPA welcomes the NZIA as an important step to support the deployment of clean technologies at the European level. This regulation provides the right framework to boost the manufacturing of net-zero technologies at the industrial level and sets Europe on the right path to achieve climate neutrality.

This new regulations eases conditions for investors and technology manufacturing projects thanks to  streamlined rules on construction permit procedures, the creation of a net-zero industrial valleys and mostly more clarity on public procurement and auctioning. Projects identified as having a greater potential for decarbonisation will benefit from fast-track permit procedures for construction or expansion and guidance in accessing finance.

Batteries are listed among the strategic technologies that contribute to the EU’s climate and energy objectives. Provided a swift implementation of this regulation and a clear outline of a financial plan, this regulation could help EU’s battery value chain develop better and faster.

Research and Innovation are key to develop the strategic clean technologies needed to push the NZIA to its full potential. Europe needs to invest more in battery research to develop the knowledge and trained specialists to create a competitive battery value chain that can compete with other parts of the world.

The European Commission estimates that meeting the headline 40 percent target by 2030 will require €92 billion in investment, with the bulk (around 80 percent) coming from the private sector, which will be facilitated by a “Net-Zero Europe Platform” . To reach the targets set by the European Commission, it is fundamental that both the public and the private sector keep on investing in clean energy technologies.