Net-Zero Industry Act: New Guidance on Non-Price Criteria
The European Commission has published new guidance on the application of non-price criteria under the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA), supporting the implementation of Articles 25 and 26 of the Regulation. The guidance aims to ensure that public spending supports not only competitive prices, but also the sustainability and resilience of Europe’s clean-energy technology supply chains.
The new requirements apply to public procurement of net-zero technologies and renewable energy auctions, introducing criteria related to environmental sustainability, supply-chain resilience, responsible business conduct, cybersecurity and project delivery. The guidance is intended to support contracting authorities, EU countries and market participants in applying these requirements consistently across the EU.
The initiative contributes to the broader objectives of the Net-Zero Industry Act to strengthen Europe’s manufacturing capacity for strategic net-zero technologies, increase resilience and reduce strategic dependencies.
The new guidance is particularly relevant to ESEIA’s work on strengthening pathways from research and innovation to market deployment. ESEIA Director Brigitte Hasewend leads the SET Plan Cross-Cutting Task Force 5 on Access to Market, while market uptake, knowledge valorisation and the scaling of clean-energy innovation are also reflected in ESEIA’s projects and upcoming activities, including the 7th ESEIA International Conference.
