Any Aegean islands currently not included in development programs for electricity grid interconnections with mainland Greece need to be added, RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, has told power grid operator IPTO and distribution network operator DEDDIE.

RAE is striving for the completion of grid interconnections concerning the Dodecanese, west Cyclades and northeast Aegean islands by 2030.

The project’s completion will terminate the need for public service compensation (YKO) surcharges included on electricity bills to support high-cost, high-polluting diesel units operating on islands for local electricity generation. Annual costs add up to 800 million euros.

Also, the overall Aegean interconnection project will facilitate investments worth 3 billion euros. It will also encourage the development of renewable energy projects on islands with rich wind and solar energy potential.

The grid interconnection of the Dodecanese with the mainland, in Corinth, a major project at par with the prospective Crete-Athens link, will require investments worth 1.5 billion euros. IPTO estimates this project will be completed in 2027.

The northeast Aegean link, budgeted at approximately 500 million euros, will offer the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Limnos and Samos mainland interconnections with either Thrace, in the northeast, or further south, close to Athens.

IPTO estimates the west Cyclades interconnections, a fourth phase for the Cyclades region, will be completed in 2023, a year ahead of schedule. This project is planned to link Milos, Folegandros, Serifos, Sifnos and Kythnos with Lavrio, southeast of Athens.