Net Zero Industry Act
Acceleration Valleys and Strategic Projects
The NZIA offers two key tools to promote and facilitate industrial production of net-zero technologies (NZT).
Jan 08, 2026
Acceleration Valleys
Member states may assign "Net-Zero Acceleration Valley" status to specific locations to accelerate net-zero industrial activities. This pertains specifically to the following activities:
- accelerate the implementation of NZT manufacturing projects including net-zero strategic projects or clusters thereof, or
- to test innovative NZT.
Acceleration Valleys facilitate the establishment of clusters for NZT industrial activity and further streamline administrative procedures.
Net-zero techology projects in acceleration valleys can benefit from public interest status similar to that assigned to strategic projects. Additionally, these projects can rely on strategic environmental assessments carried out in advance in each valley for clearly defined industrial sectors. This streamlines procedures for individual projects that are then able to benefit from a dedicated single point of contact for each valley.
Net-Zero Valleys in Germany
Across Germany’s industrial transition regions, a variety of Net‑Zero Valley initiatives are taking shape. The Net Zero Valley Lusatia stands out as the first model region in the EU to receive "Acceleration Valley" status. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the German federal states of Brandenburg and Saxony.
Strategic Projects
Net-zero production projects located in Germany can be recognized as strategic projects. The benefits of strategic project status include priority status for relevant administrative processes including, for example, the permit-granting process (including environmental assessments and spatial planning). Because strategic projects contribute to the supply security of NZT, these are considered to be in the public interest.
Strategic projects also enjoy accelerated permit processes for construction or expansion purposes. Subject to the project's annual manufacturing capacity, the following time limits apply:
- less than 1 GW: 9 months
- 1 GW or more: 12 months
The maximum period of 12 months also applies to NZT strategic projects for which an annual manufacturing capacity is not measured in GW. A maximum time limit of 18 months applies for CO2 storage sites.
Selection Criteria
Strategic projects must fulfil either the resilience, competitiveness or climate criteria.
- Increase in EU production capacity for a component or segment of the NZT supply chain
- EU access to the best available NZT or products produced in first-of-a-kind manufacturing facility
- Improvements in environmental sustainability, performance or circularity achieved through production processes using NZT
Deviating criteria apply to CO2 storage sites.
Application Process
The application process has two steps.
- The applicant submits the application online at the EU level. The application is forwarded to the relevant member state.
- In Germany, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy coordinates the forwarding of applications to the relevant federal state authorities responsible for the application.
For details on the procedure, please refer to the EU guidelines for the strategic projects application process .
Success Story
In June 2025 LyondellBasell‘s plant in Wesseling was selected as a strategic project under the NZIA in the decarbonization of chemicals production sector.
Germany Trade & Invest supported the investment.
