Consolidated Law on Renewable Energy: the corrective decree redesigns procedures for renewable energy plants.

The corrective decree to the Consolidated Law on Renewable Energy has been definitively approved and introduces a package of changes aimed at simplifying authorizations, clarifying key definitions, and encouraging faster and more coordinated development of renewable energy plants.

This is a project eagerly awaited by operators, designers, and businesses, especially at a time when energy efficiency and renewable energy integration are becoming key elements in the HVAC/R world.

One of the main objectives of the amendment is to reduce administrative obstacles in all cases where renewable energy projects have minimal impact on the local area. For many light-duty installations, the process is redefined as free construction activity, while for other types of installations, a more streamlined authorization process is introduced, with reduced timeframes and a single municipal interface as a point of contact.

The environmental impact assessment process has also been shortened in some specific cases, from 120 to 40 days, and definitions that previously generated uncertainty have been clarified: "related works," "essential infrastructure," and "single project."

The goal is to make the installation of new systems more predictable and streamlined, encouraging integration with storage, repowering, and expansion systems that do not require the use of new land.

New definitions and updated rules on compensation

The decree also addresses a particularly relevant issue for those investing in plants: the regulation of compensation .

The decision to calculate the costs based on expected energy for the entire useful life of the plant was confirmed, maintaining a methodology that allows for greater stability in planning investments and without overloads based on actual production in the initial years.

The reformulation of some technical definitions also helps clarify the scope of authorizable interventions, reducing interpretative grey areas and offering a more stable framework for designers, EPCs, and companies operating with integrated systems or hybrid solutions.

A more favorable framework for integrated systems and energy efficiency

For the HVAC/R sector, the amendment to the Consolidated Law on Renewable Energy represents a significant step forward. The faster authorization process allows for the faster installation of renewable energy systems integrated with air conditioning systems , heat pumps , district heating , or energy recovery solutions.

Ease of managing storage and repowering can facilitate modernization of existing plants, making it easier to achieve goals of reducing consumption and electrifying industrial processes.

The new regulatory framework does not completely eliminate the issues related to compensation, but it does offer a clearer and more predictable framework, allowing operators to develop more robust projects from an economic and authorization standpoint.