Renewable Energy Regulations 2026.

The Renewable Energy Regulations 2026, is Gibraltar subsidiary legislation made under section 13 of the Treaty on Gibraltar and the European Union Act 2026 to implement Article 219(4) of the Agreement concerning Gibraltar in relation to the promotion of energy from renewable sources. The Regulations establish a domestic framework for increasing the share of renewable energy in Gibraltar’s gross final consumption of energy by 2030, requiring the Competent Authority to publish a Gibraltar Renewable Energy Plan within twelve months of commencement. That plan must assess renewable energy deployment potential, available land, sea and sub-surface areas, infrastructure requirements, support measures and an indicative trajectory to 2030 and beyond. The Regulations address renewable energy deployment across buildings, transport, heating and cooling, industry, self-consumption and renewable energy communities. They empower support schemes for renewable energy, establish minimum renewable energy requirements for new and renovated buildings, and amend the Town Planning Act 2018 to introduce specific planning procedures and time limits for renewable energy projects, including solar energy equipment, heat pumps, repowering, grid connections and renewables acceleration areas. The Regulations require mapping of areas suitable for renewable energy deployment and allow designation of renewables acceleration areas, while excluding nature conservation sites and major bird and marine mammal migratory routes, except for artificial and built surfaces located in those areas. The instrument also regulates sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria for biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels, including restrictions concerning agricultural biomass from high-biodiversity land, peatland, forest biomass, cascading use of biomass and greenhouse gas emissions savings. It establishes verification, certification, traceability and audit requirements, including the Gibraltar Renewable Energy and Sustainability Register, recognition of voluntary and national schemes, guarantees of origin, installer certification, consumer information, renewable electricity integration, low indirect land-use change-risk certification, enforcement powers, offences, civil penalties, appeals, guidance, savings, transitional provisions and fees.