Thuringia Ministry pushes for faster approval of new industrial and energy facilities

The German state of Thuringia is implementing measures to accelerate the approval process for new industrial and energy facilities, aiming to reduce lengthy waiting times for investors. The Ministry of Energy announced that a series of steps have been agreed upon to streamline these procedures, including enhancing early public engagement.

“

It's about permits under immission control or energy law, for example for new factories, heating plants, biogas plants or wind turbines.

The initiative targets permits for a range of projects, such as new factories, heating plants, biogas facilities, and wind turbines, under immission control or energy laws. The ministry assured that these efforts will not compromise environmental protection standards. The goal is to provide swift clarity for significant investments while maintaining a high level of environmental safety, according to State Secretary Karin Arndt.

To facilitate quicker processing, lower immission control authorities and the State Office for Environment, Mining, and Nature Conservation will be encouraged to involve the public earlier in the planning stages. This early involvement aims to identify potential objections sooner and address them within the ongoing procedure. Investors will also receive clearer guidance on potential procedural hurdles and necessary documentation.

“

There are no restrictions on environmental protection, the ministry assured.

A unique feature being introduced since 2025 is the use of project managers. These individuals, funded by the companies seeking approval, will support the authorities by coordinating expert opinions, monitoring deadlines, checking document completeness, and preparing meetings. In return for this support, companies using project managers may benefit from fee reductions of up to 40 percent. Additionally, a new decree effective immediately aims to ensure that specialized authorities adhere strictly to the one-month deadline for providing statements.

“

It's often about large investments where clarity should be created as quickly as possible - with a consistently high level of environmental protection.