Evia wind energy investors given two more months to cover link costs

Wind energy park investors in southern Evia, the large island located slightly northeast of wider Athens, have been given a two-month extension to start payments covering the cost of an underwater cable connection linking Polypotamos in Evia with seaside Nea Makri, on the northeastern outskirts of the capital.

This extension was made possible by an energy ministry bill amendment submitted to Greek Parliament as a result of cashflow problems being encountered in the RES sector.

Prior to the two-month extension, RES producers investing in southern Evia were expected to start paying the submarine cable connection’s cost by the end of this year.

Approximately fifteen investors holding wind facility licenses for southern Evia will need to pay IPTO, the power grid operator, for the connection project’s cost, estimated at 80 million euros. The line has a 400-MW capacity.

Most of the Greek market’s major wind energy investors are planning to develop projects in southern Evia. These include the main power utility PPC, Iberdrola-Rokas, Terna, Gamesa, Protergia and Enteka.