A RES special account surplus needs to be maintained to protect producer payments against various market uncertainties, including reduced earnings and System Marginal Price (SMP) reductions, pundits have noted.

In its latest monthly report, renewable energy market operator DAPEEP reduced its RES special account surplus forecast for the end of 2019 to 184.35 million euros from approximately 200 million euros in the previous report. These figures include a 70 million-euro reduction kept aside as a safety net.

Projections included in DAPEEP’s latest report, released yesterday, reach to the end of 2020, or 17 months ahead, up from the previous report’s shorter five-month projection.

A forecast period contraction to five months from 24 months in the past prompted a reaction from market officials who argued that the operator’s projections serve as an important tool for the Greek State authorities when shaping their RES policies. The shortened projection period undermined the tool’s effectiveness, officials added.