RES sector investors, left with until the end of the year to submit and have processed applications that could secure them feed in premiums, but stranded as they wait for related ministerial decisions to be published in the government gazette before they can lodge the needed paperwork, have expressed concern over the time remaining. They have requested a deadline extension.

The ministerial decisions are expected to be published in the government gazette any day now, possibly by tomorrow.

However, in comments offered to energypress, sector officials noted that a considerable number of applications are expected to be submitted in the limited time remaining this year, which, they added, makes extremely doubtful the chances of these applications being processed on time by LAGIE, the Electricity Market Operator, and DEDDIE, the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator.

If the end-of-year deadline for feed in premiums is missed by RES investors, they will then need to go through tenders for capacities before developing their prospective projects.

Investors have already signed earlier contracts for a large number of wind-energy and biomass projects, but they now need to sign new contracts until the end of the year for feed in premiums and avoidance of tenders so as to begin developing their projects in 2017.

As of January 1, 2017, investors will need to go through tenders, in accordance with the country’s RES framework.

Market officials estimate that delays will set in and that the first tender will not be held prior to next summer, meaning that new contracts may take until mid-2018 to be signed.

Older prospective projects granted feed in tariffs need to be constructed by June, 2018. Though the total capacity concerning this category is 1,400 MW, investors are not expected to develop over 350 MW.