Slovakia rejects most proposed wind energy acceleration zones

The Slovak Ministry of Environment has significantly reduced the number of proposed acceleration zones for wind energy development. Following a strategic environmental assessment (SEA), seven out of eight originally identified zones are no longer recommended for further assessment or permitting processes.

Deputy Prime Minister Tomáš Taraba stated that the decision follows expert findings and feedback from local governments and the public. He noted that many locations lacked the necessary technical studies to justify wind energy development and emphasized that the ministry resisted pressure from lobbyists.

Only one pilot zone in eastern Slovakia, located in the Michalovce district, will be retained and split into two separate zones. The original document, managed by the Ministry of Economy, was part of a commitment to the Recovery and Resilience Plan, which involves 430 million euros in funding. Wind parks would only be established in these zones if local municipalities agree, which the minister does not expect to happen in the rejected areas.