EU’s Renewable Energy Directive remains a catalyst for renewables amidst political instability
Designating areas specifically for renewable energies
© freepik
A new joint study* reveals that the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) has been a significant political stimulus for EU Member States to initiate spatial mapping for renewables and the designation of renewable acceleration areas.The report also reveals that political uncertainty is becoming an increasingly important challenge in the transposition and implementation of RED III on top of persistent barriers such as limited data for mapping processes, administrative bottlenecks,and lack of structural dialogue.
The report is a joint analysis on the progress of 10 Member States (Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain) on their transposition and implementation of coordinated spatial mapping of areas for renewable energy and designation of Renewable Acceleration Areas (RAAs).In most of the countries analysed, mapping processes have been initiated. Most notably, countries that had not previously implemented similar processes, RED III has resonated strongly and created a firm incentive to implement coordinating spatial mapping and planning. In contrast, countries with existing processes, such as Germany, France, and Italy, experience a more complex implementation of the RED III, often slower due to difficulties in integrating with existing processes and laws.
“It is encouraging to see RED III has proven to be a powerful driver for renewable energy spatial planning across the EU, particularly in countries that previously lacked such frameworks. This analysis clearly shows that in a challenging political landscape, RED III can provide a stable overarching framework that can ensure planning and investment certainty, while promoting nature-positive renewable deployment, meaningful public engagement, and coordinated grid and spatial mapping.” - Flore Belin, Renewable Energy Expert at Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe
Political uncertainty has become the greatest challenge in regards to the transposition and implementation of RED III. A combination of breakdowns and changes in national governments, a lack of political will, fundamental political restructuring and growing right-wing populist campaigns against renewables is weakening regulatory momentum, creating investment uncertainty, and hindered progress towards the EU’s RES targets.
The final step of designating Renewable Acceleration Areas in February next year is fast approaching*. While RED III has stimulated major progress, our analysis reveals that many Member States are facing delays in the transposition and implementation steps. To keep up the much needed momentum on renewables, we therefore call on Member States to sustain on the progress already achieved, building on valuable mapping tools initiated in the last year and continue dialogue on land use management with relevant stakeholders and the public.
*This study was a joint analysis conducted by the Oeko-Institut, CAN Europe, WWF EPO, Birdlife Europe & Central Asia, the European Environmental Bureau and The Nature Conservancy.
*This was made evident with 26 of the 27 Member States failing to meet the 21st May 2025 deadline on implementing coordinated mapping for the deployment of renewable energy, with Denmark being the only Member State compliant.
*The deadline on the designation of RAAs is on the 21st February 2026.
