Austria
This national factsheet was developed in cooperation with CAN Europe and the European Environmental Bureau (EEB), based on the expertise and inputs of their Austrian member organisations and partners. It draws on responses to a dedicated questionnaire circulated across the Austrian environmental and renewable energy NGO network, with the aim of assessing the state of play of the implementation of Renewable Acceleration Areas (RAAs) under Article 15c of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III).
The factsheet provides a concise overview of governance arrangements, the scope and characteristics of RAAs, environmental safeguards, and public participation in Austria. It concludes by identifying key gaps and formulating targeted recommendations at national level.
Last updated: April 2026
Overall assessment
Austria completed its public consultation process for its Austrian Renewable Energy Expansion Acceleration Act (Erneuerbaren-Ausbau-Gesetz, EABG) to translate RED III article 15c into law, but some provincial spatial planning departments have already begun proposing RAAs - specifically in Upper Austria and Carinthia. The first RAAs vary across the provinces, with Upper Austria identifying large new areas for wind and roadside corridors for solar, while Carinthia has prioritised zones around existing or planned wind farms.
Strong environmental safeguards have been integrated through sensitivity mapping and exclusion of Natura 2000 sites in Austria’s rules, although only two of the provinces have completed Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) so far with full documentation not yet publicly available. Public participation is included but mostly at later stages, prompting calls for earlier engagement, longer consultation, and strong adherence to national environmental commitments.
Overall, Austria is making progress on its renewable acceleration. In the next steps of transposition and implementation, ensuring transparency, early and meaningful public involvement, and consistent adherence to environmental targets as well as climate targets will help facilitate robust and socially accepted implementation.
Transposition and governance
Status: ONGOING
New provisions were introduced into Austria’s spatial planning laws and other relevant legislation (e.g. Nature Protection Acts; Building regulations, Electricity regulations).
The Austrian departments for spatial planning in the offices of the nine provincial governments will be responsible for designating RAAs in practice, as well as the Federal Ministry for Environmental Protection for water issues.
Scope and characteristic of the RAAs
Size and spatial coverage
In Upper Austria, an area of 1,450 hectares has been identified as potential RAAs for solar photovoltaics along motorways and expressways. For wind, there are a total of eight RAAs covering a total of 8,870 hectares with an energy yield potential of 1,735 GWh per year. In Carinthia, four areas totalling around 730 hectares will be designated.
Technology scope
Wind and solar.
Types of area prioritised
In Upper Austria, the RAAs for wind are new areas, whilst the existing motor traffic routes were selected for solar. In Carinthia, the four RAAs for wind focus on areas surrounding existing and planned wind farms.
Inclusion of grids and storage
Not included.
Environmental safeguards
Sensitivity mapping and data use
Sensitivity maps have been developed in Austria, and are being utilised in the two provinces where RAA designation has begun. In Upper Austria, existing maps from the national geoinformation system were used, including maps for Natura 2000 areas, national protected areas, biotope maps, landscape surveys, vegetation maps, wildlife corridors, and ornithological data from BirdLife Austria showing sensitivity for wind power.
In Carinthia, a rough zoning has been carried out using a digital GIS layering process as part of preliminary work and analysis for RAA designation. Existing EIA and SEA documents were consulted, as well as different GIS-related information and spatial planning documents on protected areas, sectoral programmes, first development plans, wildlife corridors, and the digital soil map of Austria. Following an initial screening, methods for a more in-depth investigation were determined. Conflict criteria such as nature conservation and nature protection laws have also been identified and negative planning carried out.
Exclusion of environmentally sensitive areas
Natura 2000 sites, protected areas, and identified bird migratory routes are excluded from RAAs in the two Austria.
Environmental assessment and mitigation measures
Only two federal states have so far conducted a Strategic Environmental Assessment; as of writing, further information on the other federal states is currently not available.
In Upper Austria, the SEA was completed in October 2025, with public consultation held from 16 October 2025 to 11 December 2025, during which time anyone could submit written input. There are mitigation measures proposed, but they’re not yet published [1].
In Carinthia, an SEA was also carried out. The results were published for review, with the option of submitting written documents as feedback. The legislature decided on the acceleration areas in early February, but as of writing, no documents are available to the public. Mitigation measures have been defined in Carinthia, including measures to protect the population from noise, forest soil (soil recultivation, reuse of soil material), and biodiversity (monitoring of protected species and relocation, creation of replacement habitats, temporary shutdowns). Based on this, acceleration areas are likely to be published soon.
Public participation and engagement
Public consultation and stakeholder involvement: there has been public consultation and stakeholder engagement in the RAA designation process for Upper Austria and Carinthia. In Upper Austria, public consultation took place from 16 October to 11 December 2025. In Carinthia, there was also the possibility to submit feedback following an SEA process.
Recommendations at national level
Based on inputs from Austrian NGOs and experts, the following priority recommendations emerge:
Ensure earlier and meaningful involvement of the public, including recognised environmental organisations, to strengthen acceptance and reduce risks to sensitive ecosystems.
Extend or adapt consultation periods so stakeholders have adequate time to review large and complex documents, avoiding superficial or rushed input.
Maintain strong national commitment to national environmental obligations and targets, ensuring they are respected as binding rather than optional considerations.