Renewable energy acceleration area (akcelerační oblast)

Under Czech Act No. 249/2025 Coll. on accelerating the use of renewable energy sources, an acceleration area (akcelerační oblast) is an area designated to speed up the use of a renewable energy source, such as wind or solar power plants. The Act has applied since 1 August 2025 and transposes the EU Renewable Energy Directive as amended by Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (RED III). Acceleration areas are designated as areas or corridors in the national territorial development plan, in a region's regional development principles or in a municipal zoning plan, always for a specific type of source.

Where an area may not lie and where it is preferred

• It may only be designated within a necessary area (nezbytná oblast) for the same type of source, set by the government in the spatial development policy.
• It may not lie in a site of Community importance, a bird area, a specially protected area or in areas excluded by government regulation for reasons of the environment, heritage care, defence, spas, aviation or meteorology.
• Preference goes to artificial and built-up land, such as the surroundings of transport infrastructure, car parks, industrial and farm sites, landfills and former open-cast mining land.

For each area a territorial measure on conditions and mitigation measures is issued, setting the conditions under which power plants may be permitted there, for example to protect birds, water or landscape character.

What is faster in the area

A project in an acceleration area is assessed against the conditions of the territorial measure. If it would otherwise be subject to an environmental impact assessment (EIA), the regional office decides within 45 days whether an assessment is exceptionally needed; if it issues no such decision, the project is not subject to assessment. The building authority then decides on the permit within 60 days of the start of proceedings. Outside acceleration areas, power plants can still be permitted, just without this faster procedure.

The state's acceleration areas (Amendment No. 2 of the ÚRP)

The first acceleration areas of national importance are in Amendment No. 2 of the territorial development plan (územní rozvojový plán, ÚRP), approved by the government on 27 July 2026. It designates 61 areas covering 297 km², about 0.38% of Czechia, of which 284 km² is for wind and 13 km² for solar power plants. The amendment takes effect on the 15th day after a public notice is posted on the official board of the Office of the Government. Regions may designate further areas in their development principles and municipalities in their zoning plans.

What it means for a buyer

An acceleration area nearby does not mean that power plants will be built there or that they are permitted. According to the Ministry for Regional Development and the Ministry of the Environment, designation does not mean automatic permission to build, and municipalities and owners of affected land remain parties to the subsequent proceedings. The area does, however, show where wind or solar plants are expected and where they can be permitted faster. For a house near an area for wind turbines, it is worth finding out the municipality's position and following projects in the EIA process and on the official notice board.

Frequently asked questions

Is every area for power plants in a zoning plan an acceleration area?

No. An area or corridor for renewable energy production designated in zoning documentation before 1 August 2025 counts as an acceleration area only if it meets the statutory criteria, and only from the day a territorial measure is issued for it.