Article 15b Mapping of areas necessary for national contributions towards the overall Union renewable energy target for 2030

By 21 May 2025, Member States shall carry out a coordinated mapping for the deployment of renewable energy in their territory to identify the domestic potential and the available land surface, sub-surface, sea or inland water areas that are necessary for the installation of renewable energy plants and their related infrastructure, such as grid and storage facilities, including thermal storage, that are required in order to meet at least their national contributions towards the overall Union renewable energy target for 2030 set in Article 3(1) of this Directive. To that end, Member States may use or build upon their existing spatial planning documents or plans, including maritime spatial plans set up pursuant to Directive 2014/89/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 16 ). Member States shall ensure coordination among all the relevant national, regional and local authorities and entities, including network operators, in the mapping of the necessary areas, where appropriate.

For the purpose of identifying the areas referred to in paragraph 1, Member States shall take into account in particular:

Member States shall favour multiple uses of the areas referred to in paragraph 1. Renewable energy projects shall be compatible with pre-existing uses of those areas.

Member States shall periodically review and, where necessary, update the areas referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, in particular in the context of the updates of their national energy and climate plans submitted pursuant to Articles 3 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.