Good practices
Good practices

Activity

Sharing learned lessons on spatial optimisation and permitting

How can spatial optimisation help accelerate permitting for electricity grids? RGI shares good practices from across Europe to raise awareness of the role of holistic planning.

Activity

Topic

Spatial optimisation

Dimension

Grids & Energy Systems

Space is a limited resource and subject to conflicting interests. Given that all infrastructure impacts the environment in which it is built, development of renewable energy and electricity grid infrastructure requires robust and holistic spatial planning.

Approaches and methodologies combining spatial planning with energy system planning, can optimise electricity grid development and therefore, enhance renewable integration.

But how can spatial optimisation help accelerate permitting for electricity grids? What is the role of acceleration areas for renewables and grids, and how are they being implemented in Europe? What practices do grid operators deploy and what can be learned from them? Exploring these questions, raising awareness, as well as disseminating good practices and related tools, RGI engaged with different stakeholders.

Sharing insights with European stakeholders

On 7 May 2025, CINEA hosted a closed-door Knowledge Sharing Workshop on Permitting. The event gathered over 200 participants, including Innovation Fund grantees, project developers, representatives from DG ENER, CLIMA, GROW, all EU Member States, and other stakeholders. Key takeaways from the workshop supported CINEA’s report ‘Permitting: Insights from Innovation Fund projects’, published in November 2025.

RGI contributed to the workshop sharing how holistic planning can support accelerate infrastructure deployment, including good practices on spatial optimisation that can help address permitting challenges. Check RGI’s presentation below:

2025_RGI-PPT_2025_RGI-PPT_Challenges-and-opportunities-for-developing-electricity-grids.pdf

15757.346 KB

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Explore one of the good practices included in RGI’s contribution

Learn More

Access the workshop materials to learn more.

Workshop Presentations
Workshop Key takeaways
CINEA’s report
Workshop Presentations
Workshop Key takeaways
CINEA’s report

Joint NGO Webinar on acceleration areas

On 1 October 2025, RGI contributed to the webinar ‘From Policy to Action: Tracking Progress of Renewable Energy Spatial Planning and Designation of Acceleration Areas in Selected EU Member States’.

The event was organised by CAN Europe, in partnership with WWF EPO, BirdLife Europe and Central Asia, the European Environmental Bureau, and The Nature Conservancy, and launched an analysis developed with the Öko-Institut.

The joint report assesses the progress of ten EU Member States in transposing RED III, implementing spatial mapping and planning for renewables, and designating Renewable Acceleration Areas.

RGI’s intervention brought in the perspective of electricity grids and spatial planning optimisation, particularly linking grid acceleration areas with the broader concept of renewable acceleration areas.

Read the joint report and watch the recording to learn more.

202510_Oeko-Institut_Report_Acceleration.pdf

1054.149 KB

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Webinar recording

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contact

Alexandros Fakas Kakouris

Senior Manager – Energy and Policy Systems

Alexandros Fakas Kakouris

Senior Manager – Energy and Policy Systems

t: +49 30 2332 11021
Alexandros joined RGI in March 2021 to support its Advocacy team. He is a fully qualified lawyer in Greece and prior to RGI worked as legal counsel in law firms and corporate environments in Greece and Germany. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) and he is currently pursuing a Master of Business Law (MBL) with a focus on European and International Energy Law at the Technical University of Berlin.

Nathália Pimentel

Manager – Communication & Energy Systems

Nathália Pimentel

Manager – Communication & Energy Systems

t: +49 30 2332 11035
Nathália joined RGI in November 2022 as Junior Manager within the communication team. Currently, she works as Manager – Communication & Energy Systems. She is responsible for communication-related tasks, while also co-leading different activities within the Grids & Energy Systems Dimension in RGI. Her main work topics are circularity and stakeholder engagement, as well as permitting and acceleration of renewables and grid infrastructure. Previously, she worked for the private sector, as well as GIZ Brazil and the European Union’s International Urban Cooperation Program in Latin America and the Caribbeans (IUC-LAC). Nathália studied at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) in Brazil, and the University of Pécs (PTE) in Hungary. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations.

Dr. Andrzej Ceglarz

Director – Energy Systems

Dr. Andrzej Ceglarz

Director – Energy Systems

t: +49 30 233211014
Andrzej has been working at RGI since May 2017, having previously cooperated with RGI as researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). Currently, he works as a Director for Energy Systems, being responsible for projects and activities under the RGI’s Technical Dimension addressing the questions how to plan, design and implement a carbon-free and optimised energy system. He holds a Master Degree in International Relations from the Wrocław University and completed his PhD at the School of Social Sciences and Technology at the Technical University of Munich.

Alexandros Fakas Kakouris

Senior Manager – Energy and Policy Systems

Alexandros Fakas Kakouris

Senior Manager – Energy and Policy Systems

t: +49 30 2332 11021
Alexandros joined RGI in March 2021 to support its Advocacy team. He is a fully qualified lawyer in Greece and prior to RGI worked as legal counsel in law firms and corporate environments in Greece and Germany. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) and he is currently pursuing a Master of Business Law (MBL) with a focus on European and International Energy Law at the Technical University of Berlin.

Nathália Pimentel

Manager – Communication & Energy Systems

Nathália Pimentel

Manager – Communication & Energy Systems

t: +49 30 2332 11035
Nathália joined RGI in November 2022 as Junior Manager within the communication team. Currently, she works as Manager – Communication & Energy Systems. She is responsible for communication-related tasks, while also co-leading different activities within the Grids & Energy Systems Dimension in RGI. Her main work topics are circularity and stakeholder engagement, as well as permitting and acceleration of renewables and grid infrastructure. Previously, she worked for the private sector, as well as GIZ Brazil and the European Union’s International Urban Cooperation Program in Latin America and the Caribbeans (IUC-LAC). Nathália studied at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG) in Brazil, and the University of Pécs (PTE) in Hungary. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations.

Dr. Andrzej Ceglarz

Director – Energy Systems

Dr. Andrzej Ceglarz

Director – Energy Systems

t: +49 30 233211014
Andrzej has been working at RGI since May 2017, having previously cooperated with RGI as researcher at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK). Currently, he works as a Director for Energy Systems, being responsible for projects and activities under the RGI’s Technical Dimension addressing the questions how to plan, design and implement a carbon-free and optimised energy system. He holds a Master Degree in International Relations from the Wrocław University and completed his PhD at the School of Social Sciences and Technology at the Technical University of Munich.