Policy brief on Renewable energy and land-use

Europe’s renewable energy expansion is increasingly constrained by land availability and competing uses such as agriculture, housing, and biodiversity protection. Meeting EU climate targets will require not only more wind and solar, but better spatial planning and more efficient land use.

EU frameworks like RED III and REPowerEU push Member States to designate renewable acceleration areas, prioritise degraded or already developed land, and improve public participation in planning. Across Europe, tools such as strategic zoning and digital planning are helping reduce conflicts and speed up deployment.

At the same time, innovative approaches like agrophotovoltaics, floating solar, and brownfield redevelopment are allowing multiple land uses to coexist, reducing pressure on scarce space. Success will depend on coordinated governance, stakeholder engagement, and balancing energy goals with environmental and social priorities.

In this policy brief, you’ll find current challenges, the European framework of funding and support, several approaches to minimising land-use conflict and policy recommendations. Download it here.