Recording of Thursday, May 08, 2025 | The smarter E Europe Exhibition Program 2025 | Exhibition Program | Language: English | Duration: 20:49 .

Planfeststellung: Streamlining Permits for Hydrogen and Power-to-X Projects in Germany Without Zoning Plans

The presentation "Power to X: The Great Unknown in Planning and Permitting Law" explores the integration of hydrogen and Power-to-X technologies within German administrative law, highlighting both challenges and opportunities. These emerging technologies necessitate adaptation by authorities for planning and permitting processes. Challenges arise from extensive explanation needs, while opportunities lie in developing creative legal frameworks. In Germany, projects involving these technologies require permits under emission control laws (BImSchG), with procedures varying based on project location—industrial areas simplify processes; greenfields near solar or wind parks have specific rules but face size limitations; undeveloped sites need complex negotiations unless deemed privileged projects—a status not yet applicable to hydrogen initiatives. Alternatively, Planfeststellung permits streamline approvals by combining zoning plan approval with emission control authorization, bypassing municipal political hurdles. This comprehensive permit option is beneficial when local council support is lacking as it offers robust legal protection against objections but requires environmental impact assessments mandated by European law due to their reliance on expert opinions regarding protected species—all contributing to a lengthy process that can be expedited with strong backing.

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Speaker

Dr. Julia Wulf
Lawyer
Taylor Wessing Partnerschaftsgesellschaft mbB
Germany

Talk of session: Challenges and Support to Implement Hydrogen Projects: How to Build my H2 Project?

Bringing a hydrogen project from concept to reality involves navigating complex hurdles—from securing initial investment and ensuring regulatory compliance to meeting strict safety and environmental standards. This session dives into the practical steps needed to initiate, plan, and execute hydrogen ventures. Experts will explore key topics, including project economics (CAPEX/OPEX), viable business models, certification schemes, and the latest permitting frameworks.

Further Talks of this session:

Welcome and Introduction

Speaker

Dr. Thomas Hillig
Managing Director
THEnergy
Germany

To Talk

Green Hydrogen Production - Regulatory Challenges under EU and German Law

Speaker

Sebastian Berg
Laywer
Beiten Burkhardt Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH
Germany

To Talk

Decarbonizing the SME Sector with Hydrogen: Mission (Im)possible?

Speaker

Philipp Kampmann
Manager H2-Ecosystems
Thüga AG
Germany

To Talk