electromobility

PPC business plan to include more ambitious RES goals

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Power utility PPC’s new business plan, to be announced towards the end of the year, will feature a more ambitious transition towards the corporation’s RES objective of between 2,000 and 3,000 MW, as well as bolder steps concerning digital products, the retail electricity market, electromobility and the decarbonization schedule.

PPC, undergoing strategic changes, has decided to present three-year business plans that will be revised annually instead of its customary five-year plans.

This reflects the corporation’s determination to remain connected with rapid developments in the energy sector, capable of outdating business plans announced just a year earlier.

The new PPC business plan, expected in December, will aim for a RES portfolio of 2,000-3,000 MW within two years; swifter digitalization; increased collaboration with the private sector for electromobility development; greater emphasis on cost-reduction synergies; as well as revenue reinforcement through the application of new technologies in all fields.

The business plan will be complemented by a new regulatory framework for PPC’s privatization-headed subsidiary HEDNO, the distribution network operator, as well as European Commission negotiations, crucial for the new generation of retail products.

The new PPC business plan will offer fundamentals for the establishment of a corporation delivering annual operating profit of between 750 and 900 million euros between 2021 and 2023.

A smooth ride is not guaranteed. Fluctuations are possible. Gas and petroleum prices, currently low, will most likely rise over the next few months, PPC’s decarbonization plan represents an enormous challenge, while difficulties and delays in the absorption of amounts from the recovery fund are feared.

For the time being, the market is approving PPC’s approach. The company share has risen 187 percent over the past six months, up from 1.55 euros in March to 4.45 euros yesterday.

 

PPC tender ‘soon’ for procurement of 1,000 electric car recharging units

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Power utility PPC intends to soon announce a tender for the procurement of an initial lot of 1,000 electric vehicle recharging units the corporation intends to install for public use, PPC electromobility director Kyriakos Kofinas has noted.

PPC will ultimately aim to install a total of 10,000 recharging stations around the country, the official pointed added. 

The installation of recharging stations represents part of a wider PPC electromobility business plan to also feature various other related services.

Research conducted by PPC has shown network availability for recharging stations is not an issue at this embryonic stage, Kofinas supported, adding that such an issue could arise in the future and need to be resolved, given the extent of the power utility’s installation program.

Cabinet reshuffle may slightly delay electromobility subsidies

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Greece’s subsidy plan for electromobility purchases may face slight delays as a result of a limited government reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis earlier this week to improve performance on health and EU fund management.

Theodoros Skylakakis, who was upgraded to Alternate Finance Minister from Deputy Finance Minister as part of the cabinet reshuffle, had previously co-signed, under his preceding government role, a joint ministerial decision for the publication of the subsidy plan’s implementation guide in the government gazette.

However, Skylakakis will now need to re-sign the joint ministerial decision as alternate finance minister, his new post, to ensure this document’s absolute legality. In addition, the new alternate minister’s responsibilities will first need to be published in the government gazette before he re-signs the joint ministerial decision.

The joint ministerial decision was planned to be published in the government gazette tomorrow but this could now be rescheduled for August 10. Efforts are still being made to stick to the original schedule and have the joint ministerial decision for the electromobility subsidies published tomorrow.

The date of publication is important as electromobility purchases made as of this date will be eligible for subsidies.

For the time being, the starting date for subsidy applications, via an online platform, has remained unchanged and is scheduled for August 24.

Motorbikes, bicycles dominate early queries for electric vehicle subsidies

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A new online platform offering information on the government’s forthcoming subsidy program supporting electromobility purchases, and a related help desk, both launched yesterday, have already begun drawing solid interest.

Interested parties made some 130 telephone calls and sent about 60 emails seeking subsidy information on the first day, according to sources.  Approximately 85 percent of queries concerned subsidies for electric motorbike and bicycle purchases.

Information on the upcoming electromobility subsidy package may be obtained by calling 2131513139, 2131513128, 2131513640, 2131513643 or 2131513797; or writing to the email address support.kinoumeilektrika@prv.ypeka.gr; or visiting the website kinoumeilektrika.ypen.gr, which includes a FAQ section. Information on this website will be constantly updated in accordance with the subsidy program’s developments.

An August 24 launch date has been scheduled for subsidy applications to the platform.

The subsidy program, budgeted at 100 million euros, is expected to provide support for 27,500 electric vehicle, motorbike and bicycle purchases.

Corporate buyers to lead way in electromobility subsidies offer

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Companies appear likeliest to be the first to embrace the government’s forthcoming subsidy package supporting electromobility purchases, corporate feedback has indicated.

Private buyers, too, are expected to express early interest in the electromobility subsidy package, but their focus will be on electric bicycle and motorbike purchases, not electric car purchases, as a result of the technical simplicity linked to these favored options.

Bicycles and motorbikes require just a battery to operate, whereas electric cars depend on the existence of an extensive recharging network, not yet available, for wider mobility.

Private buyers of electric cars are expected to emerge at a latter stage, once a sufficient recharging network has been developed.

Besides the lure of subsidies, additional tax and depreciation incentives will also drive companies towards making early-bird electric car purchases.

Companies will be offered subsidies of 5,500 euros for each of up to three electric car purchases, and up to six cars if based on islands.

Car dealers have, so far, reportedly been contacted by pharmaceutical companies, supermarket chains, telecommunication groups, IT companies, as well as smaller enterprises, all interested in replacing older vehicles with electric models.

The subsidy package includes bonus payments for new electric vehicle purchases if these are combined with withdrawals of older models.

Electromobility subsidies platform expected after mid-August break

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The energy ministry is working on launching an online platform for electromobility subsidies following the mid-August break, definitely before the beginning of September.

The ministry is expected to announce details on the electromobility subsidy package later today.

As a result, buyers of electric cars, motorbikes, scooters and bicycles, as well as recharging equipment, should expect to be able to lodge subsidy applications to the platform a little before September.

Invoices for electromobility purchases made in the lead-up to the platform’s launch will also be valid for subsidies, if all criteria are met, as a result of a related joint ministerial decision to be published in the government gazette  early August.

All moves being made by officials are aiming to save time and generate wider electromobility interest as soon as possible.

The package will offer subsidies of up to 6,000 euros for electric car purchases by private owners, plus bonuses of up to 1,000 euros if these purchases are combined with the withdrawal of older vehicles.

Subsidies for fully electric cars, or battery electric vehicles (BEV), worth up to 30,000 euros will reach 20 percent, 6,000 euros being the limit. Lower subsidy rates of 15 percent will be offered for BEV models costing over 30,000 euros. The 6,000-euro subsidy limit and bonus for withdrawals of old cars will also apply for this category. In addition, 500-euro subsidies will be made available for purchases of recharging units.

Electric motorbike purchases by private owners will be entitled to subsidies worth 20 percent of the purchase cost, the upper limit for subsidies in this category being 800 euros. Bonuses of 400 euros will be offered if these purchases are combined with withdrawals of older motorbikes. Electric bicycle purchases will be subsidized by up to 40 percent, the subsidy limit being 800 euros.

Companies will be offered subsidies of 5,500 euros for each of up to three electric car purchases.

Taxi drivers will be offered subsidies of up to 8,000 euros plus 2,500 euros for compulsory withdrawals of old taxis. BEV purchases will be subsidized by 25 percent of the purchase price with a subsidy limit of 10,500 euros. Also in the taxi category, plug-in hybrid electric cars (PHEV) with CO2 emissions of up to 50g CO2/km will be entitled to subsidies worth 15 percent of the pre-tax retail price. Withdrawals of old taxis will be compulsory in exchange for 2,500-euro bonuses.

 

Electromobility, home energy efficiency upgrade subsidies in pipeline

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The environment, transport and finance ministries are scheduled to sign a joint ministerial decision tomorrow for a subsidy program supporting electromobility purchases.

Once the joint ministerial decision is published in the government gazette, interested parties will be able to proceed with electric vehicle purchases and apply for subsidies by lodging related invoice information onto an online platform as soon as it is launched, approximately in mid-August.

Tomorrow’s joint ministerial decision will provide the program’s full details, including the procedure and eligibility criteria.

The program is expected to be divided into three categories for private owners, taxi drivers and companies. 

The package will offer subsidies of up to 6,000 euros for electric car purchases by private owners, plus additional bonuses if these purchases are combined with withdrawals of old vehicles.

Taxi drivers will be offered subsidies of up to 8,000 euros plus 2,500 euros for compulsory withdrawals of old taxis.

Companies will be offered subsidies of 5,500 euros for each of up to three electric car purchases. 

Besides the electromobility subsidy support program, the energy ministry is also preparing an updated Saving at Home package for energy efficiency upgrades of existing buildings. An initial guide is expected to be released next week.

The new Saving at Home program will offer subsidies for RES generation and storage, electric vehicle recharging stations, as well as smart home energy management systems.

Plans submitted will need to promise property energy efficiency lifts by at least three categories in order to be eligible.

Previous Saving at Home subsidy programs were limited to casing, doors, windows and heating-cooling systems, including insulation.

Launch of electromobility subsidy program now imminent

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A draft bill for subsidies supporting purchases of electric cars, scooters, bicycles and recharging units is set for publication in the government gazette today ahead of a needed ministerial decision, probably next week, and the launch of a related platform for applicants, expected in August.

Prospective buyers of electric vehicles and rechargers do not need to wait until the platform is launched. If all criteria are met, buyers can proceed with purchases whose outlay will be deemed valid for subsidy support, energy ministry sources told energypress.

However, buyers will need to promptly lodge their subsidy applications to the platform once it is launched, probably within August, to secure their subsidies.

Just like the “Saving at Home” subsidy program for domestic energy efficiency upgrades, electromobility subsidy applications lodged to the platform will be processed in chronological order until the program’s budget, totaling 100 million euros for one and a half years, has been fully absorbed.

Some 16,000 to 17,000 applications – for electric cars, exclusively – would be enough to fully cover the 100 million-euro amount offered.

A big response and swift absorption of funds is likely to lead to the release of further subsidies supporting the electromobility sector.

The government announced a series of incentives early in June with the aim of invigorating the electric car, scooter and bicycle market. The public’s response to the platform will serve as a crucial indicator on the appeal of these incentives.

Electric car purchases of up to 30,000 euros are expected to be subidized by 20 percent, while a lower subsidy rate of 15 percent is planned for purchases exceeding 30,000 euros.

Solar energy association wants net metering rule revisions for boost

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The Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Companies (SEF/HELAPCO) has called for a series of net metering rule revisions by the government to stimulate growth for the sector.

Proposals forwarded by the association include making possible the amortization of net metering investment costs directly through electricity bills.

At present, electricity suppliers offer net metering system installations through bank financing packages that cover between 70 and 80 percent of the net metering investment cost, ranging between 5,000 and 12,000 euros.

As a result, consumers are responsible for paying initial sums of between 1,000 and 1,500 euros for net metering system installations concerning small homes and between 2,400 and 3,600 euros for larger-scale projects.

Under current conditions, amortization requires eight years. This effectively means consumers opting to install net metering systems stand to benefit from reduced electricity bill costs for a period of 17 years as net metering agreements are offered for 25-year periods.

Authorities anticipate the gradual rise of the electromobility sector will boost demand for net metering as increased domestic consumption will make installations for self-production more attractive.

Tesla managerial job posts for Greece signal market entry plan

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Job classifieds for Greece recently posted by Tesla on the company website, including for the position of a sales and delivery manager, confirm the US hi-tech giant is planning to establish a local trading network for electric vehicles.

This prospect highlights the significant electromobility growth potential Tesla sees in the Greek market.

Tesla’s preparations for a trading division in Greece represent the third step in the company’s overall plan for Greek market entry following initiatives to establish an R&D department and develop a national recharging network.

Tesla has already established a Tesla Greece R&D division, expected to employ up to 50 specialized engineers once in full gear. This division’s current workforce figure remains well below the target, raising questions in the R&D community.

Tesla, since the beginning of the year, has been involved in talks with Greek government officials as well as representatives of distribution network operator DEDDIE/HEDNO and RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, for the installation of recharging units on Greek highways.

However, speculation that Tesla could be seeking to develop a recharging network that would be compatible only for its electric vehicle models has raised concerns. It should be pointed out that the Tesla plan for Greece is still in the making. Clarity will be offered once the Tesla plan for Greece is finalized.

The energy ministry has introduced an electromobility law designed to attract investment in the sector.

Electric cars subsidy fund soon, recharge unit support to follow

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The energy ministry is working on launching a subsidy program supporting electric car and bicycle purchases, 11,700 in total, by the end of this month, ministry officials have informed.

A related draft bill is scheduled to be discussed by parliamentary committees over the next few days ahead of its ratification and a required ministerial decision for the subsidy package.

The energy ministry’s secretary-general Alexandra Sdoukou, spearheading the government’s electromobility effort, intends to also seek funding through the EU’s recovery fund, when this fund is made available, to put together an equivalent subsidy support program for the development of recharging facilities.

The electromobility subsidy package, worth 100 million euros, will remain available until the end of the year. It will offer support to individuals and companies for the purchase of 1,700 electric cars, 3,000 electric bikes (1,500 bicycles and 1,500 scooters), 1,000 electric or hybrid taxis and 6,000 company cars.

Interested parties will need to submit applications to the effort’s online platform, Kinoumai Ilektrika, to be launched once the draft bill is ratified.

The program will also offer bonus payments for withdrawals of older vehicles.

 

VW considers Astypalaia island as electromobility testing site

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German automaker Volkswagen, preparing to conduct real-condition tests on a range of new electric vehicles, including self-driving models, is considering the Greek island Astypalaia as a testing site.

Astypalaia is one of the Greek islands the government is looking to convert into a green island with self-sufficient RES generation.

VW is now considering to proceed with investments needed on Astypalaia for its planned electromobility and self-driving car tests. The island was proposed by the Greek government as an appropriate testing site.

A team of VW officials were in Athens in February for a related meeting with Greece’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kostas Fragogiannis, responsible for economic diplomacy and extroversion.

This Dodecanese island is among the Greek islands capable of hosting RES and energy storage systems as well as electric vehicle recharging infrastructure required by VW for its testing, Greek authorities support.

DEPA Commerce 5-year business plan includes turn to RES sector

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Gas company DEPA Commerce’s five-year business plan for 2020-2024, containing investments estimated at 200 million euros, aspires to broaden the company’s interests by also incorporating renewable energy projects totaling 200 MW, either through independent development or acquisitions of mature plans.

Privatization fund TAIPED and the energy ministry are expected to approve the DEPA Commerce business plan within July.

DEPA Commerce was formed by gas utility DEPA as a new entity for its privatization procedure.

Besides RES projects, the DEPA Commerce business plan also includes hydrogen and biomethane projects, as well as electromobility initiatives.

The company’s expansion of business activities is expected to lead to greatly increased EBITDA and profit figures.

Once finalized and approved, the DEPA Commerce five-year business plan will be included in the due diligence package for prospective bidders.

‘Energy ministry policies crucial in effort to revitalize economy’

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The energy ministry’s policies promise to play a pivotal role in the challenge faced by the government to revitalize the national economy following lockdown, energy minister Costis Hatzidakis has noted in an article featuring in GREEK ENERGY 2020, the energypress team’s latest annual publication covering the Greek energy sector.

Action is already being taken by the ministry through a decisive energy-sector agenda that aims for growth and is fully aligned with the European Green Deal, now a key economic growth tool throughout Europe, the minister notes.

New financial tools such as an EU recovery fund, worth 750 billion euros, according to a European Commission proposal, are designed to help the EU achieve its goal of transition towards a zero-emission economy through support for the gradual elimination of fossil-fuel dependence, RES growth and energy savings, the minister writes.

Greece is ready to make the most of this EU support package, effectively an additional NSRF funding program for the country promising capital worth around 32 billion euros, in order to achieve sustainable green-energy growth, according to Hatzidakis.

Besides decarbonization and RES development, other aspects incorporated into the energy ministry’s wider plan include:  electromobility growth; a third Saving at Home subsidy program for domestic energy-efficiency upgrades; reforms for greater competition, transparency and more attractive price offers in the energy market; reduced industrial energy costs; and energy-sector privatizations, the minister notes.

 

Electromobility creating various opportunities, players preparing

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Besides the auto industry and recharging network investments, the country’s push towards electromobility, strongly supported by a draft bill delivered by the government yesterday for consultation, is also creating various other new business opportunities.

Enterprises active in battery and recharging technology, spare parts for electric cars and e-bikes, for example, can expect production opportunities.

Business opportunities are emerging for electricity companies, fuel companies, network owners and operators, recharging technology manufacturers and technology firms.

The government’s draft bill includes provisions enabling fuel stations, shopping centers, super markets, parking lots, as well as municipalities and prefectures to install recharging stations. An extensive, widely accessible recharging network will be pivotal to the country’s overall electromobility effort.

The draft bill also includes a provision for the establishment of electric vehicle charging operators, expected to primarily develop their own recharging stations, at locations either owned by them or prospective partners.

The operators will also be able to collaborate with shopping centers, super markets, municipalities and any other entities wanting to install recharging stations but lacking the size or interest to get too involved with more complex procedures.

Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) has already announced the establishment of a subsidiary to focus on the energy group’s electromobility interests. Also, Motor Oil has taken its first steps, mainly through NRG, the group’s supply firm.

Both these major energy groups have already installed some recharging stations along highways and at other points. All major fuel companies plan to follow suit.

The country’s major independent electricity suppliers, Heron, Elpedison and Protergia, plus smaller players, have all incorporated electromobility into their strategic plans.

Power utility PPC, aspiring to dominate this sector, has already announced three MoUs, with the AB Vasilopoulos supermarket chain, Beat taxi service, and airport operator Fraport Greece. PPC aims to have installed 1,000 recharging stations around Greece over the next two to three years.

Some electricity suppliers have formed partnerships with car industries. Elpedison has teamed up with Mercedes Benz Hellas, Motor Oil’s NRG with BMW, and Protergia with Kosmocar-Volkswagen.