Summary
Greece has submitted its updated version of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) in December 2019. According to the NECP, country is planning to increase the overall share of renewable energy sources (RES) in its gross final energy consumption to 35% by 2030. In the electricity sector, the share of renewables will rise from 29.2% to at least 60% (NECP Greece, 2019).
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 11.8 GWh (4.5 GWh in 2020), wind power 17.2 GWh (7.3 GWH respectively in 2020) and hydro power 6.6 GWh (5.5 GWh respectively in 2020).
The licensing process follows specific steps and is summarised below:
• Site selection: The site selection is based on the Special Spatial Planning Framework for RES, which is currently under revision.
• Electricity Production License: Certification of the RES Producer substituted the previous Electricity Production License for RES. This replacement aspires to reduce the duration of the permitting process.
• Administrative Authorisation: This step includes the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval by the Decentralised Administrations or the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MEE).
• Grid Connection Permit: This step includes the Preliminary Grid Connection Offer (GCO) and Binding Grid Connection Offer (BGCO). Both are relevant for the connection of a RES installation to the electricity grid.
• Corporate- Legal- Fiscal: A tax (3%) is deducted each year from the revenues of a RES plant operator (wind power and PV projects above 20 MW).
• Other: The Installation License authorises the construction of a RES installation, while the Operation License permits the operation of a system. The Operation License is only issued after all other permits have been secured.
Sequential order of process steps
1. Site selection
2. Electricity Production License
3. Administrative Authorisation
4. Grid Connection Permit
5. Corporate- Legal- Fiscal
6. Other
Competent authorities
- MEE
- IPTO
- HEDNO
- RAE
- Decentralised Regional Administrations