About the LIFE REALS Project

In accordance with the EU's RED III Directive, it is mandatory for member states to designate renewable energy acceleration areas. These are locations where investments based on solar and wind energy can be implemented safely, respecting both environmental and social viewpoints. When designating these acceleration areas, the use of artificial and built-up areas must be emphasized.

Placing renewable energy projects on artificial surfaces reduces the burden on natural habitats, mitigates land-use conflicts, and effectively utilizes already transformed areas, thereby supporting the EU's climate and biodiversity goals.

Currently, acceleration efforts primarily focus on certain processes of the licensing procedures, while the obstacles of site selection and spatial planning are pushed to the background. These types of challenges are especially strong on artificial areas (including brownfields and degraded lands), where licensing is often more complicated and costly than greenfield investments.

Until 2028, the project will help authorities in five countries—Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Spain, and Ukraine—to equip them with the appropriate knowledge, tools, and capacities to simplify licensing. The results of the project will also be shared with at least seven other EU member states.