Czech government set to discuss zones for faster approval of renewables on Wednesday

The government is expected to discuss on Wednesday the introduction of so-called acceleration areas, where solar and wind power plants will be approved under a simplified process. A bill providing for their designation is intended to make permitting processes for new power sources more efficient, authorities hope. Marek Vošahlík, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO), told the Czech News Agency (ČTK). The state aims to increase the share of renewable energy sources in the future.

The bill on accelerating the use of renewable energy sources (RES) follows a resolution approved earlier that set out the basic procedure for identifying suitable areas for renewables in spatial planning.

The bill introduces so-called acceleration areas, where renewable energy sources, specifically solar and wind power plants, will be approved under a simplified process. According to the ministry, predefined conditions are intended to reduce the administrative burden on investors, and projects meeting the requirements of the European directive will not be subject to an environmental impact assessment (EIA).

„In acceleration areas, it will be possible to permit not only new RES projects, but also other related infrastructure, such as connecting power generation facilities to the distribution, transmission or transport network; energy storage systems sized to match production at the given location; transport and technical infrastructure related to RES operations; and measures to mitigate impacts on the area,“ Vošahlík said.

According to him, the document sets out further tasks for the individual authorities, which will work together to identify suitable areas for acceleration zones and approve specific projects.

The acceleration areas themselves will be designated at three levels: in municipal spatial plans, in regional development principles, and at the national level through a national spatial development plan. „Each acceleration area will have a spatial planning measure setting out detailed conditions and criteria for construction,“ Vošahlík added.

Supporters of renewable energy have long called for the establishment of so-called acceleration zones. They say Czechia has long lagged behind in building large solar parks, which are expected to become an important part of the energy sector in the future.

The state expects the share of renewable energy sources to increase significantly in the future. It currently stands at around 19 percent. Under the National Energy and Climate Plan approved last year, the share of renewables is expected to rise to at least 30 percent by 2030.