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Photovoltaic energy policy in Greece

General
In Greece the most important contribution to renewable energy regards the generation of electricity by large hydropower. The country has been an early mover in solar thermal energy, and is still among the countries with a high penetration of solar thermal.

The Greek Renewable Energy Source Act (Law 3468/2006) is in place as of 2006, focusing on simplification of the permitting system for the RES investments in Greece, and also the definition of electricity feed-in-tariffs system, applicable for the sales of RES-produced electricity to the grid. The tariffs are adjusted annually for inflation and/or increases in retail electricity prices

Next to the system of feed-in tariffs renewable energy projects may be financially supported in the framework of the National Development Law 3522/2006, through tax exemptions or direct project subsidies (ranging form 34% to 55% and up to a maximum of 20 million euro).

Special point of attention is the hybrid system for the storage of RES produced electricity in the non-interconnected islands.

According to the draft Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources the target for the share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption of energy in the year 2020 for Greece is 18% (in the year 2005 the share was 6.9%) (European Parliament legislative resolution of 17 December 2008).

On June 4th 2010 Law L3851/2010 (OG A/85 on "Accelerating the development of RES to deal with climate change and other regulations") came into effect, in which the Greek government committed to a renewable energy share of 20% in fianal energy consumption instead of the 18% as set by the Directive.

Renewable energy projections according to the National Renewable Energy Action Plan for Greece
The National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) for Greece was submitted in July 2010. The target according to Annex I of Directive 2009/28/EC is 18% for the year 2020 and the projected NREAP share in that year exactly matches the target.  According to the projection, the most important contribution in the year 2020 is expected from wind power (16.8 TWh or 1444 ktoe, 33% of all renewable energy). Second important contribution is expected from biomass (renewable heating and cooling) (1222 ktoe, 28% of all renewable energy). The third largest contribution is from hydropower (6.6 TWh or 565 ktoe, 13% of all renewable energy). Wind power contributes in the year 2020 with onshore wind (7.2 GW and 16.1 TWh) and offshore wind (0.3 GW and 0.7 TWh). For solar photovoltaic the 2020 contribution is projected to be 2.2 GW (2.9 TWh). For solar thermal the 2020 contribution is projected to be 355 ktoe. The two most important biofuels are projected to contribute 203 ktoe (biodiesel) and 414 ktoe (bioethanol / bio-ETBE) by 2020. The renewable electricity production from solid biomass amounts to 0.4 TWh (31 ktoe) and for biogas it is expected to be 0.9 TWh (77 ktoe). The consumption of renewable heat is expected to amount to 1222 ktoe for solid biomass and is not specified for biogas.

Renewable electricity: photovoltaic (PV) energy
The installed renewable capacity in Greece importantly increased in the year 2007, and is expected to continue to increase during 2008. The acceleration is due to: long lead-times of project initiated in the period 2001-2004, which is mainly due to institutional reforms in the power sector. Also, the simplifications of investment regime compared to the previous era and the abolishment of administrative barriers during 2003-2004 are reason for this increase. Finally, the revision of the licensing regime and the widening of the time frame of the power supply contracts has helped (Law 3468/2006). Important notions in this law are:

•    Putting the national target for the share of RES on an official footing in the net domestic power consumption in the year 2010 at 20.1 percent and in the year 2020 at 29 percent.
•    Taking initiatives in environmental permitting through the setting of strict deadlines  within which approvals should be granted or consensus rendered by services and bodies involved in the interim stages of the overall licensing.
•    Setting up of two intra-ministerial coordinating bodies, one on level of secretaries general and the other made up of high-echelon civil servants, aiming at the coordination of the licensing processes control and the provision of support and guidance to authorities involved therein.
•    Ιntroduction of a regime of strict follow-up procedures for the holders of generation authorisations, in order to keep them bound to their legal commitments and making provisions for getting rid of those profiteering from license trading.
•    Diversification a feed-in tariff. The tariffs set by the law are revised every year on the basis of the weighted average increases of the incumbent utility’s bills.
•    Establishing of the right to install sea wind farms following the successful precedent of similar projects in the North Sea.
•    Licensing of hybrid stations without a prior tendering procedure and direct indexing of the energy tariff regime applicable to hybrid stations that will be installed in island systems not connected the mainland’s interconnected system chiefly to the avoided cost of conventional plants whose operation is thereby supplanted to ensure the economic viability of the said stations.
•    Completion of the package of efforts at bringing national laws into line with the requirements set forth in article 5 par. 5 of Directive 2001/77/EC through the set up of a system for issuing warranties of origin for renewable energy.
•    Improvement of electricity sale terms with the aim of facilitating bank financing of the projects. More specifically, the initial 10-year validity period of the contracts may be extended by an equal period simply upon a producer’s unilateral declaration to the responsible Operator.
•    Redrafting and legislative consolidation of the levy imposed on the gross proceeds from the sale of renewable energy (with the exception of photovoltaic) in favour of local governments, at 3 percent in lieu of the previous 2 percent.  
•    Increase of the limits of installed capacity up to which it is not required the issue of production authorisation and installation and operating permits .
•    Lifting of the 50-MW limit of installed capacity above which the provisions of article 35 of Law 2773/1999 did not grant priority to RES plants by load dispatch

The feed-in tariffs are adjusted annually for increases in retail electricity prices and/or the inflation rate.

 PV < 100 kWp PV > 100 kWp Number of years

2006 2007 2007 2006 2007 2008
Unit
interconnected system 45 45.282 n/a 40 40.282 n/a 20 €c/kWh
Island grid 45 45.282 n/a 50 50.282 n/a 20 €c/kWh
Source: Ministry of development, Directorate general for energy, Renewable energy sources and energy saving directorate, Hellenic republic (http://www.ypan.gr, sourced January 2008)

Apart from the feed-in-tariff, there are also several other incentives for PV systems:

The Investment Incentives Law 3299/2004, modified by law 3522/2006, Article 37, being valid for the period 2007-2013. The law emphasises regional convergence and on the provision of important incentives for new investment projects. Renewable energy investments are supported as technology changes and are not the main purpose of the law. Commercial PV applications are from 2007 eligible to a state grant covering 20-40% of total installed costs. Percentage varies with size of investing company as well as the region of the country, ranging from 20% to 40%.

There are various regional and EU funded grants available, which PV investments can benefit. Grants can be up to 50% of total installed costs.

As of September 2006, small enterprises are eligible for an interest rate subsidy, covering four units of the interest rate for small businesses. This incentive will be open until the end of 2008, and covers loans ranging from €10,000 to €400,000.

Small domestic applications are eligible for a 20% tax deduction capped at €700 per system as of 2007 (€500 before).
A target of at least 700 MWp until 2020 was initially set for PV. However, due to the huge interest, the government decided to change this target by increasing it to 840 MWp. Licensing for this capacity is meant to take place until 2010.

In April 2007 a detailed Programme for the Development of PV was presented (and amended in June 2007). This programme sets detailed targets for PV deployment in various regions according to system size for the period 2007-2010. The programme has received lots of criticism for being too tight and bureaucratic and for being released too late and after many investors had already applied for permits.

Future programme changes expected
No information available.
Sources
Ministry of Economy and Finance, http://www.mnec.gr/en/metarithmisi/investment, (sourced August 2008)

Interactive EurObserv’ER Database, http://www.eurobserv-er.org (status 2007)

Incentives for PV. Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Companies (http://www.helapco.gr), September 2007

Ministry of development, Directorate general for energy, Renewable energy sources and energy saving directorate, Hellenic republic, 4th National Report Regarding The Penetration Level  Of Renewable Energy Sources Up To The Year 2010, Athens, October 2007. Download at http://www.ypan.gr/docs/D.T.(14-12-07)4th%20National%20Report%20RES.doc (Sourced January 2008)

Ministry of development, Directorate general for energy, Renewable energy sources and energy saving directorate, Hellenic republic, Law 3468/2006, Generation of Electricity using Renew-able Energy Sources and High-Efficiency Cogeneration of Electricity and Heat and Miscellane-ous Provisions (Official Gazette A’ 129/27.06.2006). Download at http://www.ypan.gr/docs/LAW_3468-2006__RES.doc  (Sourced January 2008)

The National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs) are all published on the Transparency Platform on Renewable Energy: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/transparency_platform/action_plan_en.htm (sourced July - December 2010)

Renewable Energy Projections as Published in the National Renewable Energy Action Plans of the European Member States, http://www.ecn.nl/nreap (sourced December 2010)


Interactive EurObserv’ER Database
http://www.eurobserv-er.org
Last update: March 2011


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