Renewables acceleration areas
Renewables acceleration areas are limited areas where renewable energy projects can be fast-tracked, however addressing environmental perspectives. In these areas project developers can, under certain conditions, be granted a lighter, fast-tracked permit process for renewable energy projects.
EU-level provisions on renewables acceleration areas are laid down in the RED III Directive and the Finnish national Act on Permitting Procedures and Certain Other Administrative Procedures for Renewable Energy Plants. The provisions of this Act will apply from 1 January 2026.
The Finnish Supervisory Agency will designate renewables acceleration areas based on municipalities' proposals. Submitting proposals concerning these areas will be voluntary for the municipalities. The designation of an area does not oblige the landowner or municipal decision-makers, and other activities besides renewable energy production could also be planned and allowed in them.
Designating renewables acceleration areas will support the achievement of the objectives set out in Finland’s National Energy and Climate Strategy.
Shorter time limits for overall permit-granting procedures will be applied to projects in these areas. For the time limits applicable to projects, see our Time limits for overall permit-granting procedures for renewable energy projects page. In addition, renewable energy projects carried out in these areas can be exempted from the Environmental Impact Assessment procedure and Natura assessment. However, the Finnish Supervisory Agency will check that projects exempted from environmental impact assessments are not highly likely to cause significant unforeseen adverse impacts.
Contact information
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Customer service for environmental affairs
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