The European Union (Planning and Development) (Renewable Energy) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 274 of 2025) has made amendments to the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Planning and Development Regulations 2001 to 2025.
This circular notifies planning authorities, the Commission and other key stakeholders of the transposition of certain articles of the Renewable Energy Directive III (The Directive) into the planning code. The Directive is broad ranging and includes provisions that aim to speed up the permit granting process for renewable energy projects by providing mandatory permit granting timelines for various types of renewable energy projects, as well as provisions concerned with environmental protection Directives and how they are applied to certain renewable energy projects.
The Regulations introduce measures relevant to the following categories of renewable energy development:
- energy from a renewable non-fossil source - wind energy, solar energy, geothermal energy, osmotic energy, ambient energy, tide, wave and other ocean energy, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, sewage treatment plant gas or biogas
- repowering development
- small-scale renewable energy installations, including heat pumps and solar energy equipment.
A copy of the European Union (Planning and Development) (Renewable Energy) Regulations 2025 Circulars and a copy of the European Union (Planning and Development) (Renewable Energy) Regulations 2025 Statutory Instruments are available below.
Should you have any queries, please contact the Planning Section at 053 9196101
- RED III Your Questions Answered
- RED III Mandatory Permit Granting Timelines
- Form No. 23 Article 19 - Site notice for Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III) Development
- Article 18 Notice in Newspaper
- European Union (Planning and Development) (Renewable Energy) Regulations 2025 Circular (Number CEPP 1/2025)
- European Union (Planning and Development) (Renewable Energy) Regulations 2025 Circular (Number CEPP 2/2025)
- European Union (Planning and Development) (Renewable Energy) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 Circular (Number CEPP 3/2025)
- European Union (Planning and Development) (Renewable Energy) (No. 3) Regulations 2025 Circular (Number CEPP 4/2025)
- European Union (Planning and Development) (Renewable Energy) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 274 of 2025)
- European Union (Planning and Development) (Renewable Energy) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 426 of 2025)
- European Union (Planning and Development) (Renewable Energy) (No. 3) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 435 of 2025)