The European Commission on Monday adopted new rules under the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of clean energy technologies across the European Union and strengthening the bloc’s industrial resilience.
The latest package includes four pieces of secondary legislation and a policy communication, which provide detailed guidance on how the NZIA will be applied across member states. The measures are designed to help EU industry remain competitive, reduce carbon emissions, and strengthen supply chain resilience.
“Today’s adoption of the secondary legislation under the Net-Zero Industry Act marks a key milestone in boosting clean tech in the EU,” said Executive Vice President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy Stéphane Séjourné. “We are providing the clarity and confidence our clean tech industries need to invest, scale, and lead globally.”
The Commission clarified which manufacturing projects will qualify for NZIA provisions, including access to streamlined permitting processes and eligibility for “strategic project” status. Projects with this designation will benefit from accelerated administrative treatment and financial advisory support at the national level.
A core element of the new framework is the introduction of non-price criteria in renewable energy auctions, covering areas such as cybersecurity, responsible business conduct, sustainability, and supply chain resilience. From December 30, 2025, these criteria will be required in at least 30% of auction volumes—or 6 gigawatts per year—per member state.
The legislation also introduces a list of net-zero technology products and components, helping to identify which may trigger the mandatory inclusion of resilience-focused criteria in public procurement decisions. In such cases, contracting authorities will be required to consider factors beyond cost when selecting suppliers or technologies.
“This means that, in certain public procedures, contracting authorities must consider supply chain resilience alongside price when selecting technologies or suppliers,” the Commission said. “In other words, contracting authorities in these cases should not simply select the cheapest option.”
Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen said the new rules are intended to improve competitiveness in the clean energy sector. “Well-designed auctions to support the roll-out of renewable energy are a vital step for giving a better chance to European manufacturers to compete on the EU market, and to achieve both our resilience and decarbonisation goals,” he said.
The Commission also published an overview of the EU’s current supply dependencies for key clean technologies, a move intended to inform decisions under the resilience criterion and promote diversification of technology sources.
The measures are part of the EU’s broader push to meet its climate targets while developing a robust industrial base for net-zero technologies.
