Deputy energy minister Alexandra Sdoukou has made clear her determination to remove obstacles that could delay investments concerning the installation of standalone batteries by companies that submitted successful bids to a first energy-storage auction.

Swift development of energy-storage projects is seen as crucial by the energy ministry so that the need for RES output cuts, performed to prevent grid overloading, may be restrained.

Earlier in the week, the deputy minister chaired a meeting involving various sector officials for an update on the progress of standalone battery projects, equipment orders, plans and timetables.

Aristotelis Aivaliotis, the energy ministry’s General Secretary of Energy and Natural Resources, officials from power grid operator IPTO and RES market operator DAPEEP, as well as the heads of renewable energy and storage projects all took part in the meeting.

Sdoukou appeared determined to speed up procedures concerning the issuance of connection terms for energy storage projects and to also establish a system for monitoring their progress. Investors were asked to send monthly reports on the progress of projects.

At the meeting, IPTO ensured that all RES projects with standalone batteries will have received connection terms by the end of February. Also, the deputy energy minister asked DAPEEP, the RES market operator, to prepare operational contract details.

A total of twelve energy-storage projects developed by seven companies secured the first auction’s entire capacity of 411 MW at an average price, for a year, of 49,748 euros per MW.

Helleniq Energy and Intra Energy (Intrakat) submitted successful bids for three projects each, PPC Renewables secured operational support for two projects, while Aenaos (Mytilineos), Energiaki Techniki, Energy Bank and the Agapi Ilios energy community submitted successful bids for one project apiece.