You are falling behind, European Commission warns. Czechia catches up again, Denmark leads the way

The European Commission has launched proceedings against 26 European Union member states over their inadequate transposition of European Directive 2023/2413, which concerns faster permitting for renewable energy sources. Of the EU’s 27 member states, only Denmark has fulfilled its obligations. Czechia is incorporating the directive into its legal framework through the Act on Accelerating the Construction of Certain Renewable Energy Sources, which will enter into force on 1 August.

Following the energy crisis, the European Union approved a number of measures aimed at preventing a repeat of the 2021–2023 energy crisis. These measures also include Directive 2023/2413 (also known as the RED III Directive). Among other things, it introduces so-called acceleration zones for the construction of renewable energy sources.

The deadlines for incorporating acceleration zones into national legislation expired partly on 1 May and partly on 21 May 2025. The European Commission therefore sent formal letters to all states that had failed to meet their obligations. Member states must now respond to the letter.

Czechia is also on the list of states—as has traditionally been the case with energy legislation. However, Czechia has meanwhile adopted the Act on Accelerating the Use of Renewable Energy Sources, which transposes the majority of the RED III Directive. If the European Commission considers the provisions of the Act on Accelerating the Construction of Certain Renewable Energy Sources sufficient, the proceedings will not continue.

The new law, already signed by the President of the Republic and set to enter into force on 1 August, brings significant changes to renewable energy permitting. In acceleration zones, permitting for wind and photovoltaic power plants will be simplified and sped up, including through fixed deadlines for decisions.

In these areas, environmental impact assessments (EIA) and certain public-law approvals may be waived, as their impacts will be assessed comprehensively for the entire zone.

However, designating acceleration zones is not a simple process. The government is currently preparing a regulation that will define areas where zones cannot be located. These include national parks, protected landscape areas (CHKO) and military areas.

As a reminder, permitting renewable energy sources, particularly wind power plants, is a lengthy process in the Czech Republic. When preparing a wind farm in Czechia, developers must allow for a timeframe of several years. Acceleration zones are intended to help address precisely this problem.

Acceleration zones, their designation and their practical impact will be crucial to meeting Czech renewable energy targets. According to the Czech Republic’s National Energy and Climate Plan, the country should have a total of 10,1 GW of solar power plants and 1,5 GW of wind power plants by the end of 2030. Currently, solar capacity stands below 5 GW, while wind capacity is at up to 0,4 GW.