diff --git a/.gitlab/workflows/ci.yml b/.gitlab/workflows/ci.yml
index 7b92aef9..cb5cacbd 100644
--- a/.gitlab/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ semantic-release:
     name: node:20.13.1
   interruptible: true
   rules:
-    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH && $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push" && $CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE == "serious-scaffold" && $CI_PROJECT_NAME == "ss-python"
+    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH && $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push" && $CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE == "serious-scaffold" && $CI_PROJECT_NAME == "ss-python" && $GITLAB_TOKEN != null
   script:
     - >
       npx
@@ -57,3 +57,5 @@ semantic-release:
       -p semantic-release@23
       semantic-release
   stage: release
+  variables:
+    GITLAB_TOKEN: $PAT
diff --git a/.gitlab/workflows/renovate.yml b/.gitlab/workflows/renovate.yml
index 7d34b355..851a7eea 100644
--- a/.gitlab/workflows/renovate.yml
+++ b/.gitlab/workflows/renovate.yml
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ renovate:
     RENOVATE_BRANCH_PREFIX: renovate-gitlab/
     RENOVATE_ENABLED_MANAGERS: '["pep621", "gitlabci", "regex", "pre-commit"]'
     RENOVATE_ENDPOINT: $CI_API_V4_URL
-    RENOVATE_GIT_AUTHOR: Renovate GitLab Bot <gitlab@renovatebot.com>
     RENOVATE_OPTIMIZE_FOR_DISABLED: 'true'
     RENOVATE_PLATFORM: gitlab
     RENOVATE_REPOSITORIES: '["$CI_PROJECT_PATH"]'
     RENOVATE_REPOSITORY_CACHE: enabled
     RENOVATE_SEMANTIC_COMMIT_TYPE: build
+    RENOVATE_TOKEN: $PAT
diff --git a/docs/management/config.md b/docs/management/config.md
index 6514bb7d..7b8ad978 100644
--- a/docs/management/config.md
+++ b/docs/management/config.md
@@ -73,12 +73,12 @@ You can set the scope of the variables and secrets to **Repository** or **Organi
     1. Set the variable `PDM_PUBLISH_REPO`, the repository (package index) URL to upload the package, default to `https://pypi.org`, the official PyPI.
     1. Set the variable `PDM_PUBLISH_USERNAME`, the username to authenticate to the repository (package index), default to `__token__`, used for [API token](https://pypi.org/help/#apitoken).
     1. Set the variable `PDM_PUBLISH_PASSWORD` with the **Mask variable** option for security, the password to authenticate to the repository (package index).
-1. Renovate authentication:
+1. Renovate & semantic-release authentication:
 
     Either [Group access tokens](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/group/settings/group_access_tokens.html), [Project access tokens](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/settings/project_access_tokens.html) or [Personal access tokens](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/profile/personal_access_tokens.html) can be used. The group or project access tokens are more recommended to avoid the issues and merge requests tied to particular user.
 
-    1. Create a [group access token](https://gitlab.com/groups/serious-scaffold/-/settings/access_tokens), [project access token](https://gitlab.com/serious-scaffold/ss-python/-/settings/access_tokens) or [personal access token](https://gitlab.com/-/user_settings/personal_access_tokens) with `api, write_repository` scope.
-    1. Navigate to the [CI/CD](https://gitlab.com/serious-scaffold/ss-python/-/settings/ci_cd) settings and the **Variables** section. Set the token as variable `RENOVATE_TOKEN` with the **Mask variable** option for security.
+    1. Create a [group access token](https://gitlab.com/groups/serious-scaffold/-/settings/access_tokens), [project access token](https://gitlab.com/serious-scaffold/ss-python/-/settings/access_tokens) or [personal access token](https://gitlab.com/-/user_settings/personal_access_tokens) with `Maintainer` role and `api, write_repository` scope.
+    1. Navigate to the [CI/CD](https://gitlab.com/serious-scaffold/ss-python/-/settings/ci_cd) settings and the **Variables** section. Set the token as variable `PAT` with the **Mask variable** option for security.
     1. Navigate to the [Pipeline schedules](https://gitlab.com/serious-scaffold/ss-python/-/pipeline_schedules). Create a new schedule with `*/15 0-3 * * 1` as **Interval Pattern** and mark it as **Activated**.
 
     ```{note}
diff --git a/template/[% if repo_platform == 'gitlab' or repo_platform == 'gitlab-self-managed' %].gitlab[% endif %]/workflows/ci.yml.jinja b/template/[% if repo_platform == 'gitlab' or repo_platform == 'gitlab-self-managed' %].gitlab[% endif %]/workflows/ci.yml.jinja
index 7d55494c..39fca9a6 100644
--- a/template/[% if repo_platform == 'gitlab' or repo_platform == 'gitlab-self-managed' %].gitlab[% endif %]/workflows/ci.yml.jinja	
+++ b/template/[% if repo_platform == 'gitlab' or repo_platform == 'gitlab-self-managed' %].gitlab[% endif %]/workflows/ci.yml.jinja	
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ semantic-release:
     name: node:20.13.1
   interruptible: true
   rules:
-    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH && $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push" && $CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE == "{{ repo_namespace }}" && $CI_PROJECT_NAME == "{{ repo_name }}"
+    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == $CI_DEFAULT_BRANCH && $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "push" && $CI_PROJECT_NAMESPACE == "{{ repo_namespace }}" && $CI_PROJECT_NAME == "{{ repo_name }}" && $GITLAB_TOKEN != null
   script:
     - >
       npx
@@ -70,3 +70,5 @@ semantic-release:
       -p semantic-release@23
       semantic-release
   stage: release
+  variables:
+    GITLAB_TOKEN: $PAT
diff --git a/template/[% if repo_platform == 'gitlab' or repo_platform == 'gitlab-self-managed' %].gitlab[% endif %]/workflows/renovate.yml b/template/[% if repo_platform == 'gitlab' or repo_platform == 'gitlab-self-managed' %].gitlab[% endif %]/workflows/renovate.yml
index 7d34b355..851a7eea 100644
--- a/template/[% if repo_platform == 'gitlab' or repo_platform == 'gitlab-self-managed' %].gitlab[% endif %]/workflows/renovate.yml	
+++ b/template/[% if repo_platform == 'gitlab' or repo_platform == 'gitlab-self-managed' %].gitlab[% endif %]/workflows/renovate.yml	
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ renovate:
     RENOVATE_BRANCH_PREFIX: renovate-gitlab/
     RENOVATE_ENABLED_MANAGERS: '["pep621", "gitlabci", "regex", "pre-commit"]'
     RENOVATE_ENDPOINT: $CI_API_V4_URL
-    RENOVATE_GIT_AUTHOR: Renovate GitLab Bot <gitlab@renovatebot.com>
     RENOVATE_OPTIMIZE_FOR_DISABLED: 'true'
     RENOVATE_PLATFORM: gitlab
     RENOVATE_REPOSITORIES: '["$CI_PROJECT_PATH"]'
     RENOVATE_REPOSITORY_CACHE: enabled
     RENOVATE_SEMANTIC_COMMIT_TYPE: build
+    RENOVATE_TOKEN: $PAT
diff --git a/template/docs/management/config.md.jinja b/template/docs/management/config.md.jinja
index dfbdd268..6e4eb45c 100644
--- a/template/docs/management/config.md.jinja
+++ b/template/docs/management/config.md.jinja
@@ -73,12 +73,12 @@ You can set the scope of the variables and secrets to **Repository** or **Organi
     1. Set the variable `PDM_PUBLISH_REPO`, the repository (package index) URL to upload the package, default to `https://pypi.org`, the official PyPI.
     1. Set the variable `PDM_PUBLISH_USERNAME`, the username to authenticate to the repository (package index), default to `__token__`, used for [API token](https://pypi.org/help/#apitoken).
     1. Set the variable `PDM_PUBLISH_PASSWORD` with the **Mask variable** option for security, the password to authenticate to the repository (package index).
-1. Renovate authentication:
+1. Renovate & semantic-release authentication:
 
     Either [Group access tokens](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/group/settings/group_access_tokens.html), [Project access tokens](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/settings/project_access_tokens.html) or [Personal access tokens](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/profile/personal_access_tokens.html) can be used. The group or project access tokens are more recommended to avoid the issues and merge requests tied to particular user.
 
-    1. Create a [group access token](https://gitlab.com/groups/{{ repo_namespace }}/-/settings/access_tokens), [project access token](https://gitlab.com/{{ repo_namespace }}/{{ repo_name }}/-/settings/access_tokens) or [personal access token](https://gitlab.com/-/user_settings/personal_access_tokens) with `api, write_repository` scope.
-    1. Navigate to the [CI/CD](https://gitlab.com/{{ repo_namespace }}/{{ repo_name }}/-/settings/ci_cd) settings and the **Variables** section. Set the token as variable `RENOVATE_TOKEN` with the **Mask variable** option for security.
+    1. Create a [group access token](https://gitlab.com/groups/{{ repo_namespace }}/-/settings/access_tokens), [project access token](https://gitlab.com/{{ repo_namespace }}/{{ repo_name }}/-/settings/access_tokens) or [personal access token](https://gitlab.com/-/user_settings/personal_access_tokens) with `Maintainer` role and `api, write_repository` scope.
+    1. Navigate to the [CI/CD](https://gitlab.com/{{ repo_namespace }}/{{ repo_name }}/-/settings/ci_cd) settings and the **Variables** section. Set the token as variable `PAT` with the **Mask variable** option for security.
     1. Navigate to the [Pipeline schedules](https://gitlab.com/{{ repo_namespace }}/{{ repo_name }}/-/pipeline_schedules). Create a new schedule with `*/15 0-3 * * 1` as **Interval Pattern** and mark it as **Activated**.
 
     ```{note}