CAN Europe welcomes this opportunity to provide input to the development of guidelines for designating renewables acceleration areas (RAAs). Our input as the attached briefing titled “Renewable Energy Planning and Mapping for Successful Acceleration with Nature and Communities at Its Heart: Guiding Principles for Member States” emphasises the need for EU Member States to drastically shift towards a fully renewable energy system by 2040 through multiplied solar and wind capacities and supportive infrastructure, highlighting the importance of robust spatial planning and mapping to accelerate renewable energy deployment sustainably, efficiently, and inclusively.
The briefing includes insights from Member States’ practices, demonstrating various approaches to environmental sensitivity mapping, spatial planning reforms, and public participation strategies to minimise biodiversity impacts and foster community engagement. The briefing also outlines a framework for the designation of Renewable Acceleration Areas as part of the broader initiative to accelerate renewable energy expansion in a manner that minimises environmental impacts while fostering public support and engagement.
The framework with proposed methodological steps highlights the need for a holistic approach, integrating RAAs into overall renewable energy mapping and planning, identifying untapped potential on artificial surfaces, and adopting a nuanced perspective beyond a simple “acceleration/no-go” dichotomy. It calls for robust strategic environmental assessments, transparent multi-level governance, and meaningful public participation to ensure that the designation and utilisation of RAAs contribute effectively to the fast and fair expansion of renewable energy.
