The Act on Amendments to the Building Code and Other Acts (acceleration of the deployment of renewable energy) (308 SE), initiated by the Government, establishes the superficies licence for offshore wind farm as a new type of licence for offshore wind farms. While so far electricity producers have had to apply separately for a superficies licence, an environmental permit for special use of water, and a building permit, the amendment consolidates the requirements for these permit-granting procedures into one.
Application for a superficies licence for offshore wind farm will be more extensive than each separate process but at the same time it will be quicker because on the whole there will be less submission of documents and performance of various acts. Obtaining a superficies licence will give the right to start the construction of an offshore wind farm, and the special use of water needed for that. In the future, a single administrative act will be issued which will also reduce the number of court actions.
The amendment also simplifies the renewal of wind turbines and solar farms and establishes a state fee for proceedings for new applications for a superficies licence, and a state fee for proceedings for those who wish to transfer to integrated permit proceedings. In addition, a directive is transposed into Estonian law to enhance the development of the trans-European transport network.
During the debate, Rain Epler from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Group, Mart Maastik from Isamaa Parliamentary Group and Lauri Laats from the Centre Party Group took the floor. Jaak Aab took the floor on behalf of the Social Democratic Party Group.
55 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act and 18 were against it.
