Czech government approves process for renewable energy acceleration zones

The government has approved a process for designating so-called acceleration zones for renewable energy development. These will be areas where permits for solar or wind farms can be obtained more quickly. Preparing and permitting construction in these zones will take up to 12 months. Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) said this at a press conference following today’s government meeting. The aim, he said, is to make it easier to build large renewable energy projects. Renewables currently account for around 19 percent of total consumption. Their share is expected to rise to at least 30 percent in the future.

„We need to build more renewable energy capacity in the Czech Republic, and we know that construction is not always straightforward. That is why today we approved a measure to make it easier to build these facilities,“ Fiala said.

He explained that acceleration zones will be areas where construction permits can be obtained for large solar or wind farms. „The aim is for the preparation and permitting of renewable energy projects to take up to 12 months,“ Fiala noted. Permitting for conventional renewable energy projects typically takes at least two years, and for wind farms it often takes several years.

He said this was an important step towards further strengthening the country’s energy security. Under the government’s current plans, renewables are expected to become a mainstay of the domestic energy mix alongside nuclear power.

Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Síkela (STAN) later explained that faster permitting in acceleration zones would include, for example, simplified assessments of construction projects’ impact on the surrounding environment. He said the zones would typically be designated in industrial areas, on so-called brownfield sites or at former mining sites. They will be prohibited in Natura 2000 sites, national parks, and the first and second zones of protected landscape areas. When designating the areas, other public interests, such as aviation and national defense, will also be assessed, the minister said.

Supporters of renewable energy have long called for the creation 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 therefore expects the share of renewable energy to increase significantly in the future. It currently stands at around 19 percent. Under last year’s government proposal for the National Energy and Climate Plan, the share of renewables should rise to at least 30 percent by 2030. The European Commission returned the proposal for revision. Industry associations say the country’s potential is greater than 30 percent and that the government should raise the target in the revised plan.