Public Consultation - Sectoral Program for Acceleration Zones for Renewable Energy Deployment

Key aspects

• From June 17, 2026, to July 15, 2026, a public consultation is underway regarding the proposed definition of the Sectoral Program for Renewable Energy Acceleration Zones (PSZAER).
• The documents subject to public consultation include the following: Proposal for the Sectoral Program for Renewable Energy Acceleration Zones (“PSZAER”); Strategic Environmental Assessment of the PSZAER Proposal; and Non-Technical Summary of the Strategic Environmental Assessment.
• This program concerns the installation of renewable energy production facilities and aims to simplify and expedite administrative and licensing procedures, while safeguarding important environmental and territorial values.

Framework

The PSZAER is part of the transposition of Directive (EU) 2023/2413 of 18 October (“RED III”), which requires Member States to designate acceleration zones for the deployment of renewable energy. In Portugal, RED III is linked to Decree-Law 15/2022 of January 14, which establishes the legal regime on the organization and operation of the national electricity system, as well as the National Energy and Climate Plan 2030.

The PSZAER is a sector-specific program with territorial scope and is binding on public entities. It concerns the installation of renewable energy production facilities and aims to simplify and expedite administrative and licensing procedures, while safeguarding important environmental and territorial values. This program does not replace the municipal master plans or has direct and immediate effects on individuals. Its territorial effectiveness is contingent on its compatibility with and incorporation into municipal zoning plans, under Decree-Law 80/2015 of May 14, which approves the Legal Regime on Territorial Management Instruments (“RJIGT”).

PSZAER proposal

The PSZAER proposal includes three key elements:

(i) the definition of strategic options;

(ii) their territorial implementation in a map of acceleration zones; and

(iii) governance proposals with options for simplified, expedited, and predictable licensing.

The Green Map is the result of thematic mapping that excludes protected values. On a national scale, it shows areas with the potential to become part of future renewable energy acceleration zones, differentiating between areas with solar potential and areas with wind potential.

As regards simplified licensing specifically, a one-stop shop model is proposed, that is, an integrated administrative procedure, which includes electrical, environmental verification, and territorial compliance components, in which the developer submits a single application through a digital entry point. The administration is responsible for ensuring the internal coordination of all acts, opinions, permits, and decisions required for issuing a single prior check certificate regarding the electrical system and the verification of the project’s environmental and territorial compliance, thus replacing the current fragmented licensing process. In the urban development context, a prior notification regime is also envisaged for the execution of installation work on renewable energy projects, as substantive control of the location is ensured in advance through the integrated procedure.

As for the practical implications for renewable energy project developers, the proposed model aims to significantly reduce licensing deadlines and administrative complexity by replacing the current fragmented licensing process with a single prior check certificate.

How to participate in the public consultation?

The public consultation will run until July 15, 2026, via the Participa website, where an electronic form is available for submitting contributions. All citizens, companies, local governments, associations, and other interested entities may participate. After the public consultation closes, the contributions received will be analyzed and evaluated, followed by the final approval of the PSZAER by the government, with subsequent publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Portugal and incorporation into territorial management instruments.

For additional information regarding the content of this document, please contact your usual representative at Cuatrecasas.