1 March 2024
WindEurope’s response to public consultation on Renewables Acceleration Areas
This is WindEurope’s response to the European Commission’s public consultation on Renewables Acceleration Areas. Europe is not permitting enough new wind farms to meet the huge demand in renewables. Nor is it permitting them fast enough. According to Art 15 of the revised Renewable Energy Directive Member States need to designate so-called Renewables Acceleration Areas. If implemented properly and under the strict condition that no resources are diverted from permitting projects in other areas, Renewables Acceleration Areas may be one of the tools that can help to speed up permitting.
It is positive that Member States are encouraged to actively think where to deploy renewables and not only to consider spatial constraints to renewables deployment. Dedicated renewables areas as acceleration areas can mainly be positive when such areas have already undergone a strategic environmental assessment. However, when done incorrectly the designation of Renewables Acceleration Areas could slow down the expansion of wind significantly. This response outlines what factors need to be considered in the designation of these areas.
