The European Commission has initiated a public consultation on the use of non-price criteria in renewable energy auctions, as part of its efforts to implement the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA). This consultation is one of several aimed at gathering public feedback on draft secondary legislation designed to enhance the competitiveness of the clean tech sector across Europe.
The NZIA establishes regulations for renewable energy auctions in EU member states, including a requirement that certain non-price criteria be applied to 30% of auction volumes, or 6GW per EU country, starting from January 2026. These criteria include responsible business conduct, cybersecurity and data security, the ability to deliver projects on time, and sustainability and resilience contributions.
The public consultation seeks input on the Implementing Act, which aims to clarify and define these non-price criteria. The Commission intends to provide a more detailed framework to standardize their application while allowing some flexibility for individual EU countries.
In a statement, the Commission emphasized that these criteria will help support the EU's efforts to diversify its decarbonisation technologies, foster domestic clean energy production, and attract clean investments to Europe.
The consultation on the Implementing Act is part of a broader set of four public consultations launched by the Commission. These acts are designed to assist businesses and public authorities in identifying projects eligible for faster permitting processes and “net-zero strategic project” status, aimed at accelerating the transition to a greener economy.
