Article 15c of the revised RED, obliges EU Member States to “adopt one or more plans designating […] renewables acceleration areas for one or more types of renewable energy sources”. The identification of areas suitable to be designated as renewables acceleration areas has to follow the requirements laid down in Article 15c(1)(a). Article 15c(1)(a) indicates that Member States should give priority to certain types of areas with lower environmental sensitivity, such as artificial or already built areas, which reduces the likelihood of potential impacts. It also excludes certain locations as potential RAAs given the higher likelihood of significant environmental impacts in those areas (e.g., Natura 2000 sites, protected areas, other sensitive biodiversity areas). This report aims to complement the practical guidance published by the European Commission on 13/5/2024, by providing further details and considerations relevant for the RAA designation. The findings of this report are based on best practices identified in Member States, on a wide array of scientific literature sources, and on direct inputs provided by officials and stakeholders involved in the renewables planning process in several Member States. This report also analyses impacts and mitigation measures, focussing on areas that would be suitable for RAA designation, based on the criteria laid out in Article 15c.
Authors
Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission, Trinomics, Demurtas, Andrea, Kralli, Anna, Falco, Francesca, Ying Lee, Ling, Lardot, Maja, Remeta, Petra
- Catalogue number
- MJ-02-24-705-EN-N
- Citation
- European Commission, Directorate-General for Energy, Demurtas, A., Kralli, A., Falco, F. et al., Study on the designation of renewables acceleration areas (RAAs) for onshore and offshore wind and solar photovoltaic energy – Final report , Publications Office of the European Union, 2024, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2833/716552
- DOI
- https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2833/716552
- ISBN
- 978-92-68-18672-5
- Pages
- 118
- Published in
- Belgium
- Themes
- Renewable sources of energy
Table of Contents
- Study on the designation of 1
- Renewables Acceleration Areas RAAs for onshore and offshore 1
- Final Report 1
- Table of Contents 5
- Acronyms 7
- 1. Introduction 8
- 1.1. Technologies covered in this analysis 8
- 1.2. How to read this report 9
- 2. Steps to designate RAAs 11
- 3. Localisation of RAAs 21
- 3.1. Spatial considerations for the designation of RAAs 21
- 3.1.1. Sites to be excluded 21
- 3.1.1.1. Major bird and marine mammal migratory routes 22
- 3.1.1.2. Other sensitive areas to be determined using available 24
- 3.1.2. Identifying priority areas 28
- 3.1.3. Other considerations 30
- 3.1.3.1. Nature restoration 30
- 3.1.3.2. Constrained and high trade-off zones 31
- 3.2. Enabling conditions 32
- 3.2.1. Conditions supportive to effective RAAs designation 32
- 3.2.2. Factors which hinder the RAAs designation process 35
- 3.3. Stakeholder engagement and public participation 37
- 3.3.1. Benefits 37
- 3.3.2. Engagement methods that can be considered across the 37
- 4. Environmental considerations to ensure low impacts 40
- 4.1. Main environmental impacts of onshore wind projects 41
- 4.1.1. Collision 44
- 4.1.2. Electrocution 45
- 4.1.3. Barrier effect 46
- 4.1.4. Habitat loss and displacement of species 47
- 4.1.5. Noise 51
- 4.1.6. Habitat degradation 52
- 4.1.7. Other potential environmental impacts 53
- 4.2. Main environmental impacts of offshore wind energy 54
- 4.2.1. Noise 57
- 4.2.2. Pollution 58
- 4.2.3. Collision 58
- 4.2.4. Electromagnetic fields EMF emission 59
- 4.2.5. Habitat degradation 60
- 4.2.6. Habitat loss and displacement of species 61
- 4.2.7. Barrier effect 61
- 4.2.8. Artificial reef effect habitat creation 62
- 4.3. Main environmental impact of solar energy 62
- 4.3.1. Wildlife mortality and injury 66
- 4.3.2. Changes in the microclimate 66
- 4.3.3. Habitat degradation 67
- 4.3.4. Habitat loss creation and displacement of species 68
- 4.3.5. Barrier effect 68
- 4.3.6. Other environmental impacts 69
- 4.3.6.1. Pollution 69
- 4.3.6.2. Pressure on water availability 69
- 4.4. Cumulative impacts 70
- 4.5. Non-environmental considerations 71
- 5. Mitigating environmental impacts of RAAs 73
- 5.1. Developing the mitigation rulebook 73
- 5.1.1. Mitigation measures 73
- 5.1.2. Applying mitigation measures to RAAs 76
- 5.1.2.1. Appropriate site selection for RAA 76
- 5.1.2.2. Understanding environmental impacts 76
- 5.1.2.3. Selecting mitigation measures 77
- 5.1.3. Mitigating cumulative impacts 79
- 5.2. Mitigation measures to avoid and minimise impacts of onshore wind 81
- 5.2.1. Planning stage 83
- 5.2.1.1. Collision 83
- 5.2.1.2. Electrocution 83
- 5.2.1.3. Habitat loss and barrier effect 84
- 5.2.2. Construction stage 84
- 5.2.2.1. Collision 84
- 5.2.2.2. Barrier effect 85
- 5.2.2.3. Noise 85
- 5.2.2.4. Habitat degradation 85
- 5.2.3. Operational stage 86
- 5.2.3.1. Collision 86
- 5.2.3.2. Electrocution 88
- 5.2.3.3. Barotrauma 89
- 5.2.3.4. Habitat loss and displacement of species 89
- 5.2.3.5. Noise 89
- 5.2.4. Decommissioning stage 90
- 5.2.4.1. Collision 90
- 5.2.4.2. Habitat degradation 90
- 5.2.4.3. Noise 90
- 5.3. Mitigation measures to avoid and minimise impacts of offshore wind 91
- 5.3.1. Planning stage 93
- 5.3.1.1. Collision 93
- 5.3.1.2. Habitat loss and displacement of species 94
- 5.3.1.3. Noise 94
- 5.3.2. Construction phase 94
- 5.3.2.1. Collision 94
- 5.3.2.2. Noise 94
- 5.3.2.3. Habitat degradation 97
- 5.3.2.4. Pollution 97
- 5.3.2.5. EMF emission 98
- 5.3.3. Operational stage 98
- 5.3.3.1. Collision 98
- 5.3.4. Decommissioning stage 99
- 5.3.4.1. Collision 99
- 5.4. Mitigation measures to avoid and minimise impacts of solar power 100
- 5.4.1. Planning stage 102
- 5.4.1.1. Wildlife mortality and injury 102
- 5.4.1.2. Habitat loss and barrier effects 102
- 5.4.1.3. Changes in microclimate 104
- 5.4.2. Construction stage 105
- 5.4.2.1. Wildlife mortality and injury 105
- 5.4.2.2. Habitat degradation 105
- 5.4.3. Operational stage 106
- 5.4.3.1. Wildlife mortality and injury 106
- 5.4.3.2. Habitat loss and barrier effects 107
- 5.4.3.3. Habitat degradation 107
- 5.4.3.4. Changes in the microclimate 107
- 5.4.4. Decommissioning stage 108
- 5.4.4.1. Wildlife mortality and injury 108
- 5.4.4.2. Habitat degradation 108
- Annex A List of sources analysed 109
- Literature resources used for identifying environmental impacts and mitigation measures for onshore wind energy 109
- Literature resources used for identifying environmental impacts and mitigation measures for offshore wind energy 111
- Literature resources used for identifying environmental impacts and mitigation measures for solar energy 114
- Literature resources used for identifying cumulative effects 116
