Summary
Greece will submit its updated (under consultation in September 2024) version of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP). According to the under consultation NECP, country is planning to increase the overall share of renewable energy sources (RES) in its gross final energy consumption to 45.4% by 2030. In the electricity sector, the share of renewables will rise from 29.2% to at least 76.8% (under consultation NECP Greece, 2024).
In terms of both of installed capacity and electricity production, the three major RES technologies are PV, onshore wind power and hydro power. By 2030, PV is expected to reach 20.4 TWh/year (7.1 TWh in 2022), onshore wind power 20.8 TWh (10.9 GWH respectively in 2022) and hydro power 6.2 TWh (3.9 GWh respectively in 2022). In the updated under consultation NECP there is also the introduction od offshore wind power by 2030 with a 0.6 TWh energy production.
The licensing procedure for the development of RES plants in Greece is regulated by a variety of regulations within the Greek legislative framework. The process has been further simplified to expedite the development of RES projects and achieve the national objectives of green transition in accordance with the National Climate and Energy Plan (NCEP) as a result of the amendment of certain regulations with recently introduced laws, such as the 4951/2022 law).
The licensing process encompasses the following: the Certificate of Producer of Electricity (CPE), the Environmental Terms Approval (ETA), the Grid Connection Offer (GCO) and Grid Connection Agreement (GCA), the Operating Support Contract (OSC) (either through an auction or the execution of a private Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), the Installation License, and the Operation License.
The licensing process follows specific steps and is summarised below:
- Site selection
- Certificate of Producer of Electricity (CPE)
- Administrative authorization process - Environmental Terms Approval (ETA)
- Grid Connection Offer (GCO)
- Installation License
- Corporate- Legal- Fiscal
It should be mentioned that after obtaining the Binding Grid Connection Offer, the developer can apply for a Grid Connection Agreement and sign a PPA. These agreements, however, will take effect following the issuance of the installation licence. The Environmental Terms Approval was the most difficult and time-consuming licence until recently.
Sequential order of process steps
- Site selection
- Certificate of Producer of Electricity (CPE)
- Administrative authorization process - Environmental Terms Approval (ETA)
- Grid Connection Offer (GCO)
- Installation License
- Corporate- Legal- Fiscal
Competent authorities
- MEE
- IPTO
- HEDNO
- RAEWW
- Operator of RES and Guarantees of Origin (DAPEEP)
- Decentralised Authority of the competent region of the Ministry of Interior