Background As part of the EU’s 2008 commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% (compared with 1990 levels) by 2020 and move away from fossil fuels, the Czech Republic aimed to achieve a 13% share of energy from renewable sources. However, the development of different types of renewable energy projects in the Czech Republic has been somewhat haphazard and unregulated. The project team identified 82 projects in the period 2005-2009 that were either located in unsuitable areas, inadequately prepared or showed to be using inefficient renewable energy sources. Objectives The objective of the ReStEP project was to to develop, test, evaluate and distribute a new standardised methodology for the management of urban and regional planning of energy projects. The main focus was environmental protection and the efficient use of natural resources in a bid to reduce the number of wrongly assessed renewable energy sources (RES) projects by 50%. More specifically, the project aimed to develop a methodology for the assessment of RES and biofuel production plants using an interactive map. It aimed to include the methodology developed in any new legislative and administrative processes and promote its use at regional level, including towns and municipalities, public administrations, business sectors and the wider public. Results The ReStEP project developed a method to assess the conditions and appropriateness of projects for renewable and alternative energy sources, including biofuels. The methodology, called the Regional Sources Assessment, is implemented via a newly-developed software tool including an interactive map that features the conditions for renewable and alternative energy sources. These conditions include a full encyclopedia of data on sun, wind, water, geothermal and biomass energy potential, as well as information on environmental sustainability (e.g. soil protection, air quality, etc) and socio-economic features covering the entire Czech Republic. By crossing all this data, the tool allows the user to evaluate the appropriateness and viability of specific RES projects. The extent of the information provided by this map is unique with 113 data layers. Nowhere else can users find, in a single place, all the relevant and important information relating to land-use planning and to the use of renewable energy sources. Using this new methodology to assess new investments and regional development plans is expected to help decrease the pressure of RES on the environment, biodiversity and agricultural production. The project managed to engage all key actors from the start. The inputs and feedback from national and regional authorities, experts in the field of renewable energy resources, producers, investors and even NGOs and the general public were reflected in the final version of the ReStEP tool and manual. The software and database were successfully tested by preparing four case studies on existing installations, four assessments of new investments into renewable energy sources and four regional policy plans. The tests confirmed the good applicability of the methodology developed. As seen above, the tool can be used by state and regional authorities for regional policies and planning but also by private companies and academia. All the information is available to all for free via the project website (http://www.restep.cz) and includes a user manual. The project results were demonstrated at international level and there was confirmed interest from other European countries to replicate the ReStEP approach. At national level, the methodology has already been certified by the Ministry of Agriculture as a new voluntary tool and some of its principles were also incorporated into the national Action Plan for Biomass (2012-2020). The project team hoped the responsible ReStEP approach would help restore public support for renewable energy sources, significantly damaged by uncontrolled incentives a few years ago. In terms of communication and educational activities for the public administration, the project produced brochures, leaflets, workshops (14 regional and 5 thematic ones and one international meeting) and e-learning courses. The project also provided training for 238 public administration employees from the Ministry of Environment, 14 Regional Offices, 5 state institutions and 120 towns and municipalities. In terms of communication and educational activities for investors and operators of RES, 10 workshops and e-learning courses were organised. Similarly, communication activities such as brochures and posters, surveys, reports and articles were organised for the general public, as well as 6 workshops and 3 seminars. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).