Streamlining the consent process for the implementation of offshore wind farms in Spain, considering existing regulations in leading European countries

In the first part of the article, the relevant characteristics of the various authorization procedures established in the domestic law of the leading European countries in terms of the development of offshore wind (the UK, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Germany) are analysed on a scheme-by-scheme basis. The second part contains a discussion of the characteristics of the process of consent used in Spain followed by European Union (EU) recommended measures for improving consent processes for other energy projects (Ocean Energy projects and Projects of Common Interest). Finally, some alternatives are proposed focusing on improving the speed and efficiency of the authorization process used in Spain, taking as a reference the different regulatory systems followed by Comparative Law and EU recommended measures, and ending with a brief analysis of the influence that maritime spatial planning can have on Spanish consent process.