Renewable Energy Directive (RED III)

The Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) has been transposed into Irish legislation by way of European Union (Planning and Development) (Renewable Energy) Regulations 2025 (SI 274 of 2025). The majority of the provisions under RED III came into effect on 7 August 2025, with the exception of the EIA opinion provisions which will come into force on 1 May 2026.

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 Circular No. CEPP 1/2025 and a copy of the European Union (Planning and Development) (Renewable Energy) Regulations 2025 (SI 274 of 2025) are available below.

EU Planning and Development Renewable Energy Regulations 2025 Circular No. CEPP-1-2025

EU Planning and Development Renewable Energy Regulations 2025 - SI 274 of 2025

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has been appointed as the Single Point of Contact for RED III applications, and they will guide applicants through the permit granting process.

Contact details for the SEAI are as follows:

Telephone: 01 808 2278

Email: spc@seai.ie

Alternatively, contact the Planning Department at:

Telephone: 021 492 4000

Email: planning@corkcity.ie  

Pre-Planning

The introduction under RED III of a new completeness check is aimed at addressing issues with applications at an early stage and before the clock starts for the mandatory decision-making periods. For this reason, the pre-application process, including pre-application consultation with prescribed bodies, is emphasised and particularly for those developments which can no longer be subject to further information requests.

The Planning Authority actively encourages applicants to refer to the DHLGH guidance note on how to conduct a Completeness Check when preparing and submitting a RED III application.

The  DHLGH RED III Completeness Check guidance note and checklist can be found on pages 11-14 of Circular No. CEPP 1-2025 linked above.

RED III Planning Application

Planning applications for RED III development can be made on the Council's Planning Application form (linked here).

The site notice form to be used for RED III applications can be found here.

The following decision timelines apply (once the application is confirmed complete):

• Renewable energy ≥150kW: 52 weeks (onshore) | 65 weeks (offshore).
• Extended deadline for IROPI cases: 2 years (onshore) | 3 years (offshore).
• Renewable energy <150kW & repowering: 30 weeks | Extended: 1 year.
• Ground source heat pumps & relevant solar: 8 weeks | No extension.
• Small-scale solar or non-ground source heat pumps: 4 weeks | No extension.

Timelines for decision-making cannot be paused because of requests for further information or due to the requirement to carry out an environmental assessment. For these reasons, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage issued a circular on 15 August 2025 advising that a policy decision had been made to disapply further information requests for certain developments captured by the Regulations. These developments are relevant solar energy development, small-scale solar energy equipment developments and heat pumps. However, it remains possible to request further information for certain other renewable energy developments subject to the Regulations. In these circumstances, the planning authority must issue a request for further information within 8 weeks of the date of a completeness check notice being given and the planning authority must specify the period for replying to such a request. Where an applicant does not provide the information within the period specified, the application shall be considered as withdrawn.

RED III Appeals

Planning Authority decisions relating to RED III applications can be appealed directly to An Coimisiún Pleanála.