diff --git a/scripts/build_natura_raster.py b/scripts/build_natura_raster.py
index 71d2c45e..7fa9d544 100644
--- a/scripts/build_natura_raster.py
+++ b/scripts/build_natura_raster.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ Description
 """
 
 import logging
-from _helpers import configure_logging, retrieve_snakemake_keys
+from _helpers import configure_logging
 
 import atlite
 import geopandas as gpd
@@ -73,20 +73,17 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         snakemake = mock_snakemake('build_natura_raster')
     configure_logging(snakemake)
 
-    paths, config, wildcards, logs, out = retrieve_snakemake_keys(snakemake)
-
-    cutouts = paths.cutouts
+    cutouts = snakemake.input.cutouts
     xs, Xs, ys, Ys = zip(*(determine_cutout_xXyY(cutout) for cutout in cutouts))
     bounds = transform_bounds(4326, 3035, min(xs), min(ys), max(Xs), max(Ys))
     transform, out_shape = get_transform_and_shape(bounds, res=100)
 
     # adjusted boundaries
-    shapes = gpd.read_file(paths.natura).to_crs(3035)
+    shapes = gpd.read_file(snakemake.input.natura).to_crs(3035)
     raster = ~geometry_mask(shapes.geometry, out_shape[::-1], transform)
     raster = raster.astype(rio.uint8)
 
-    with rio.open(out[0], 'w', driver='GTiff', dtype=rio.uint8,
+    with rio.open(snakemake.output[0], 'w', driver='GTiff', dtype=rio.uint8,
                   count=1, transform=transform, crs=3035, compress='lzw',
                   width=raster.shape[1], height=raster.shape[0]) as dst:
         dst.write(raster, indexes=1)
-
diff --git a/scripts/plot_p_nom_max.py b/scripts/plot_p_nom_max.py
index ea66d612..e79ad274 100644
--- a/scripts/plot_p_nom_max.py
+++ b/scripts/plot_p_nom_max.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Description
 
 """
 import logging
-from _helpers import configure_logging, retrieve_snakemake_keys
+from _helpers import configure_logging
 
 import pypsa
 import pandas as pd
@@ -53,13 +53,11 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
                                   clusts= '5,full', country= 'all')
     configure_logging(snakemake)
 
-    paths, config, wildcards, logs, out = retrieve_snakemake_keys(snakemake)
-
     plot_kwds = dict(drawstyle="steps-post")
 
-    clusters = wildcards.clusts.split(',')
-    techs = wildcards.techs.split(',')
-    country = wildcards.country
+    clusters = snakemake.wildcards.clusts.split(',')
+    techs = snakemake.wildcards.techs.split(',')
+    country = snakemake.wildcards.country
     if country == 'all':
         country = None
     else:
@@ -68,7 +66,7 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     fig, axes = plt.subplots(1, len(techs))
 
     for j, cluster in enumerate(clusters):
-        net = pypsa.Network(paths[j])
+        net = pypsa.Network(snakemake.input[j])
 
         for i, tech in enumerate(techs):
             cum_p_nom_max(net, tech, country).plot(x="p_max_pu", y="cum_p_nom_max",
@@ -81,4 +79,4 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
 
     plt.legend(title="Cluster level")
 
-    fig.savefig(out[0], transparent=True, bbox_inches='tight')
+    fig.savefig(snakemake.output[0], transparent=True, bbox_inches='tight')
diff --git a/scripts/prepare_links_p_nom.py b/scripts/prepare_links_p_nom.py
index 6bd4bca4..b83089d6 100644
--- a/scripts/prepare_links_p_nom.py
+++ b/scripts/prepare_links_p_nom.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ Description
 """
 
 import logging
-from _helpers import configure_logging, retrieve_snakemake_keys
+from _helpers import configure_logging
 
 import pandas as pd
 
@@ -63,8 +63,6 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         snakemake = mock_snakemake('prepare_links_p_nom', simpl='', network='elec')
     configure_logging(snakemake)
 
-    paths, config, wildcards, logs, out = retrieve_snakemake_keys(snakemake)
-
     links_p_nom = pd.read_html('https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_HVDC_projects', header=0, match="SwePol")[0]
 
     mw = "Power (MW)"
@@ -76,4 +74,4 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     links_p_nom['x1'], links_p_nom['y1'] = extract_coordinates(links_p_nom['Converterstation 1'])
     links_p_nom['x2'], links_p_nom['y2'] = extract_coordinates(links_p_nom['Converterstation 2'])
 
-    links_p_nom.dropna(subset=['x1', 'y1', 'x2', 'y2']).to_csv(out[0], index=False)
+    links_p_nom.dropna(subset=['x1', 'y1', 'x2', 'y2']).to_csv(snakemake.output[0], index=False)