Opportunities of acceleration areas for renewables

Enhance your monitoring by identifying the acceleration areas for renewables .

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On May 18, 2022, the European Commission proposed the identification of "renewables go-to areas."

In France, Renewable Energy Acceleration Zones (ZAEnR) were established following the adoption of the APER law (Law No. 2023-175 of March 10, 2023, regarding the acceleration of renewable energy production). This law mandates that municipalities define acceleration zones for the establishment of land-based renewable energy production facilities. These ZAEnR are defined after public consultation (so that residents are informed about the project and can provide their feedback) according to freely determined procedures.

Municipalities are required to propose zones for renewable energy production, primarily photovoltaic, but also wind, geothermal, biogas, solar thermal, or hydroelectric energy, and they can designate areas to be excluded.

Once defined, the ZAEnR are submitted to the prefect, who then provides a departmental map to the Regional Energy Committee tasked with determining whether the zones are sufficient to meet regional objectives. If not, municipalities will be asked to define additional zones.

Once approved by the municipal council, these zones will host future projects that may be subject to calls for tenders.  Knowing the ZAEnR allows for anticipating future calls for tenders and preparing well in advance of the project.

Municipalities are not required to precisely define renewable energy installations (as they are not experts in this field), but they must designate the best locations for potential renewable energy installations based on the territory's potential and the already installed capacity. For example, a ZAEnR may encompass any type of building or parcel, whether equipped with renewable energy or not.

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Here are two recent examples of municipal council resolutions defining ZAEnR:

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The new municipality of Plateau d'Hauteville in the Ain department (01)
Municipal Council Resolution
Meeting of September 25, 2024

SUBJECT: Request for an opinion on the proposed departmental map of renewable energy acceleration zones

Summary :

Following the public consultation of residents held from January 20 to February 20, 2024, the Commune proposed acceleration zones corresponding to areas deemed preferential for the installation of renewable energy production facilities.

The Commune of Plateau d'Hauteville aimed to protect the quality of life of its residents and the quality of the area for tourists, while taking into account the challenges of the territory and promoting the development of renewable energy production installations.
The Commune does not wish to develop wind energy, given that the local wind resources are not exceptional, and in order to preserve the landscape quality.
It also does not intend to develop biogas and methanation, as local resources are not considered attractive. However, the Commune has proposed to develop:

• Biomass energy by developing heat networks and hot water production from its production units;
• Photovoltaic energy – both large-scale installations and rooftop systems;
• Solar thermal energy, with an additional thermal power plant project linked to existing boiler rooms;
• Geothermal energy from water borehole sources;
• Geocooling (a natural cooling method using underground temperatures).

The following renewable energy acceleration zones are CONFIRMED for inclusion in the map established by the Prefecture of Ain’s services:

Hauteville-Lompnes

• Angeville Rehabilitation Center, Hauteville-Lompnes, cadastral parcels 185 section K nos. 392 to 394; K nos. 1063 to 1066
• Hauteville Public Hospital, Albarine Unit, Hauteville-Lompnes, cadastral parcels 185 section K no. 358; K no. 362; K no. 1067
• Hauteville Public Hospital, Inter Unit, Hauteville-Lompnes, parcels 185 section A no. 228; A no. 817
• Orcet Medical Center, Hauteville-Lompnes, cadastral parcels 185 section A nos. 352; A no. 354; A no. 477; A no. 575
• Orcet-Mangini Center, Hauteville-Lompnes, cadastral parcels 185 section A nos. 896; A no. 905; A no. 998
• Paul Sixdenier College, Hauteville-Lompnes, cadastral parcels 185 section B nos. 532; B no. 739; B no. 947; B no. 952; B no. 1077; B no. 1120; B no. 1125; B no. 1126; B no. 1127; B no. 1133
• Dr. Crépin Street, Hauteville-Lompnes, cadastral parcels 185 section ZO nos. 19; ZO no. 33; ZO no. 36
• La Cornella, Hauteville-Lompnes, cadastral parcel 185 section E no. 625
• Molard Grana, Hauteville-Lompnes, cadastral parcel 185 section D nos. 524; D no. 92
• Municipal Technical Center, Hauteville-Lompnes, cadastral parcel 185 section C no. 845
• Casino, Hauteville-Lompnes, cadastral parcels 185 section B nos. 380; B no. 688
• Dr. Rougy Square, Hauteville-Lompnes, cadastral parcels 185 section K no. 407; 185 section B no. 968
• Town Hall, Hauteville-Lompnes, cadastral parcel 185 section B no. 972
• La Cornella Quarry, Hauteville-Lompnes, cadastral parcel 185 section L no. 1076

‍Cormaranche-en-Bugey ‍

• Lieu-dit Les Teillère, Cormaranche-en-Bugey, parcelle cadastrée 122 section ZD n°66
• Maison Familiale Rurale, lieu-dit Golet de l’Alagnier, parcelle cadastrée 122 section F n°770
• Rue de la Scierie, Cormaranche-en-Bugey, parcelles cadastrées 122 section G n°1219 ; section G n°1751 

Hostiaz

•  Au Petit Nuet, Hostiaz, parcelles cadastrées 186 section ZD n°51 à 52
•  Rue du Hangar, Cormaranche-en-Bugey, parcelles cadastrées 122 section G n°284 ; G n°286 ; G n°1083 ; G n°1680 ; G n°1775 à 1776 ; G n°1778 ; G n°1780 à 1782
•  Ecole primaire, Cormaranche-en-Bugey, parcelle cadastrée 122 section G n°1467 

Thézillieu

• Parcelles cadastrées 417 section E n° 91 ; E n°123 à 127 ; E n°136 à 137 ; E n° 139 à 140 ; E n°142 ; E n°144 ; E n°146 à 148 ; E n°154 ; E n°156 à 157 ; E n°162 à 164 ; E n°167 ; E n°169 à 170 ; E n°172 ; E n°174 à 177 ; E n°180 à 181 ; E n° 183 à 184 ; E n°188 ; E n°191 à 192 ; E n° 195 à 196 ; E n° 200 à 202 ; E n°206 à 205 ; E n°208 à 210 ; E n°212 à 217 ; E n°221 à 235 ; E n° 246 à 248 ; E n°601 ; E n°682 ; E n°824 ; E n°827 à 831 ; E n°841 à 842 ; E n°865 à 869 ; E n°883 ; E n°885 à 890 ; E n°894 ; n°903 à 904 ; E n°906 à 914 ; E n°916 à 918 ; E n°920 ; E n°932 ; E n°935 à 938 ; E n°941 à 946 ; E n°948 ; E n°952 ; E n°954 ; E n°969 à 970 ; E n°973 à 976 ; E n°991 ; E n°993 à 998 ; E n°999 à 1001 ; E n°1007 à 1014 ; E n°1017 à 1021 ; E n°1025 ; E n°1028 à 1029 ; E n°1031 à 1032 ; E n°1034 ; E n°1036 à 1037
• Parcelles cadastrées 417 section H n°1016 ; H n°1018 à 1024 ; H n°1033 ; H n°1293 à 1294
• Parcelles cadastrées 417 section WW n° 39 à 41 ; n°56 à 57 ; 
• Parcelles cadastrées 417 section WZ n°35 à 37

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Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes (42)
Municipal Council Resolution
Meeting of September 19, 2024

SUBJECT: Definition of Renewable Energy Production Acceleration Zones (ZAEnR) on the municipal territory

Summary :

It is proposed to limit the ZAEnR in the commune of Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert to the following renewable energies:

• Photovoltaic
• Geothermal energy
• Heating and cooling networks

And to define them as follows:

• Photovoltaic: To be studied for all roofs of residential and other buildings located in U and AU zones, excluding the prospection zones of the French Buildings Authority (the town center of Saint-Rambert), as well as an A zone located around Avenue Chapoton.
• Geothermal energy: To be studied in A and AU zones, as well as in an area located around Avenue Chapoton.

Heating network:

• A network to be studied in Saint-Rambert, covering the Retirement Home of the Loire, the Unchats complex, the pier, the Multipurpose Hall, Anne Frank Middle School, the Nursery, and the Kindergarten.
• A network to be studied in Saint-Just, covering the Bonbonnière, the Passerelle, Érables School, Tilleuls School, the Dojo, and Saint-Joseph Church.

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