Officials at RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, are working frantically to announce RES auctions offering solar and wind energy capacities by the end of April. A ministerial decision by energy minister Giorgos Stathakis, published in the government gazette, has enabled RAE to proceed.

It is anticipated that a lead-up period of about five weeks will be needed, once the announcement is made, to stage the auctions, meaning that RAE’s July 2 target date for the auctions is feasible.

The RES auctions will be divided into three categories. One will apply for photovoltaic installations with capacities of up to 1 MW, a second auction will offer photovoltaic installations with capacities between 1 MW and 20 MW, and a third auction will be open to investors interested in wind energy installations between 3 MW and 50 MW.

As noted by RAE, related operators have been requested to provide updated data on mature RES projects per category – solar and wind energy – with binding connection agreements. This information is needed to determine maximum capacity amounts to be offered at the auctions. These details will be included in RAE’s auction announcement.

RAE is aiming to offer 300 MW for wind energy installations and 300 MW for photovoltaic installations.

Major RES sector players have asked for the auctions to be slightly delayed in order to give participants more time to prepare and increase the likelihood of greater participation. However, RAE has insisted that the sooner the auctions take place the clearer the message to foreign and domestic investors of a mature and attactive Greek RES market.

Greece already possesses an EU-endorsed RES support mechanism, which, if acompanied by successful auctions held on schedule, will attract strong investor interest, RAE officials support.