Revisions needed by June for next installment of RRF funds

Recovery and Resilience Facility milestones set by the European Commission for Greece this year were the focus of discussions between deputy energy minister Alexandra Sdoukou and Brussels officials at a meeting in the Greek capital as the government prepares to submit its application for a fourth installment of RRF funds.

The European Commission’s RRF task force has held a series of meetings in Athens over the past few days with all ministries involved.

Greece’s list of projects seeking financial support through REPowerEU, bolstering the preceding RRF initiative, is worth a total of 795 million euros and includes Exikonomo, a 560 million-euro subsidy program for energy-efficiency upgrades of buildings; a 75 million-euro support plan for hydrogen and biomethane development; a further 75 million euros for a CCS supply chain; and 85 million euros for energy storage systems.

However, revisions, part of the milestones set for the second quarter of this year, will need to be finalized and ratified in Greek Parliament by June before these sums can be extended.

The RRF, a Brussels support initiative introduced during the pandemic, has now reached its midway mark and is scheduled to be completed by August, 2026. Greece is expected to submit its application for a fourth installment of RRF funds in April.

NECP investments of €192bn until 2030 promise GDP surge

The revised National Energy and Climate Plan, boosted to include more ambitious targets for 2030, anticipates investments worth 192 billion euros – primarily in transport – which promise to provide unprecedented momentum for the Greek economy.

Of this 192 billion-euro total, an amount of approximately 100 billion euros is expected to be injected into the electromobility sector, for which an NECP target figure of 460,000 electric vehicles has been set by 2030.

This leaves a further 92 billion euros, still an enormous amount, for investments in other sectors. Energy-related modernization of household equipment and appliances, as well as building energy-efficiency upgrades, are seen capturing the biggest share, with nearly 50 billion euros in investments forecast over the next seven years.

Replacement of outdated household equipment with new, more efficient systems is expected to mobilize close to 42.4 billion euros, according to the revised NECP. A further 6 billion euros in spending is expected for energy-efficiency upgrades to buildings.

The numbers are staggering and highlight a prospective boom in construction and related sectors, as long as households are ensured substantial aid and financing.

Subsidy programs supporting home energy-efficiency upgrades and electric vehicle purchases will need to be doubled, even tripled, annually, compared to previous years, as pointed out in the revised NECP, if abounding theories contending that the green transition is costly and financially harmful are to be proven wrong.

The percentage of GDP for spending on all types of energy-related products and services is seen rising from 19.4 percent in 2021 to 21.6 percent in 2030, before sliding to 17 percent.

Investments in all forms of cleaner electricity production, from solar farms to onshore and offshore wind farms, are ranked third. The revised NECP anticipates investments totaling 11.9 billion euros until 2030 in this domain.

Grid development is ranked fourth with anticipated investments of 6.5 billion euros by 2030, followed by much smaller amounts for energy-efficiency improvements in industry, natural gas and oil systems and other alternative fuel-related expenditure.

Nuclear plants, Baltic pipeline on energy council agenda

Electricity market reforms, the energy situation in Ukraine, progress on revised National Energy and Climate Plan appraisals, energy-efficiency financing matters, Europe’s preparations for winter, the shutdown of the Baltic-connector pipeline, CO2 emission rights, as well as nuclear power plant support are among the agenda items to be discussed at today’s EU energy council.

On the electricity market reforms front, support for nuclear power plants will be a key agenda topic. France and nine other EU member states are expected to call for two-way Contracts for Difference. Germany has already expressed reservations, fearing the impact of CfDs on the rest of the market if unconditionally applied.

This disagreement needs to be resolved as quickly as possible so that the revised market structure can be finalized and adopted by the end of the year. Market players are confident a compromise solution will be found before the end of this month.

European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson is expected to update EU energy ministers on how assessments of revised NECPs are progressing.

Also, Finland and Estonia will inform fellow EU members on any findings of an investigation conducted to determine the cause of damage discovered last week at the Baltic-connector gas pipeline, used by the two countries for access to an underground gas storage facility in Latvia. Suspicions of sabotage have been raised.

Additional €795m REPowerEU funds sought for key projects

A request just submitted by Athens to the European Commission for amendments to the Resilience and Recovery Fund includes a new RePowerEU section worth an additional 795 million euros, intended for support to key projects. If approved by Brussels, some of these projects may commence development this year, with full-scale development planned for next year.

Indeed, the successful implementation of these projects will depend on the efficiency and agility of the Greek public administration. As projects progress to the next stages, the need for accelerated procedures and effective management will become increasingly crucial to meet critical milestones and secure funding.

Most of these additional funds, a 560 million-euro majority, are planned to be allocated to new rounds of subsidy support for energy efficiency upgrades of residential properties and businesses.

A 150-million sum is planned to be made available for pilot projects concerning biomethane production and, primarily, carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiatives.

The remaining amount, 85 million euros, is planned to be offered to investors for energy storage system installations.

Energy upgrades of buildings to total €900m, annually

Annual sums of 900 million euros are projected to be invested in energy-efficiency upgrades to buildings between 2025 and 203o to facilitate the achievement of energy-saving and emission-cutting targets, according to the revised National Energy and Climate Plan.

In the preceding period, between 2020 and 2025, the support package for energy-efficiency upgrades to buildings will total 600 million euros, annually, down from a figure of 642 million euros included in the NECP’s previous version, presented last January.

Also, investment and consumer spending on energy-efficiency equipment is projected to reach 12.5 percent of GDP between 2025 and 2030, up by 3.5 percent of GDP compared to to the period covering 2015 to 2020, according to the revised NECP.

Households are projected to represent 52 percent of investment and consumer spending on energy-efficiency equipment between 2025 and 2030, according to the revised NECP.

Consumer spending on energy-efficiency equipment, as a percentage of income, is expected to rise to 8.2 percent in 2030 from 5.7 percent in 2020.

J. Lipscombe: ‘Sustainability is no longer an unwelcome burden’

Julian Lipscombe, the director of one of the UK’s leading architecture firms, Bennetts Associates, and an internationally recognised pioneer in sustainability in the construction industry, talks to ESG+ Stories about the adoption of sustainable development practices in the construction industry, B Corp certification, their first project in Greece, the Syggrou Office Complex and the Greek market.

The work and activity of Bennetts Associates became more widely known in Greece after the implementation of their first project, the Syggrou Office Complex, which recently received LEED Platinum certification.

Can you refer to the company’s activity as well as the actions you implement internally for the adoption of ESG criteria?

We are one of the UK’s leading architectural practices, operating in the UK, Greece and India.  For all of our 36 years in business, we have been at the cutting edge of sustainability – actually that word wasn’t even in common usage when we started out! Hence ESG is not something we have come to recently – it is who we are, it is in our DNA.  We have achieved a series of world-firsts, such as being the first architects globally to have Science Based Targets for our own business operations. We practice what we “preach” and we aim to ‘Be the change that the planet needs to see’ on climate.

What does the adoption of sustainable development practices mean for a company active in the construction industry and what difficulties does it encounter along the way?

We have always advocated for sustainability but it’s fair to say that, apart from a core of enlightened clients, collaborators and fellow practitioners, it felt for an eternity that the rest of the built environment sector was not on the same page — either ill-informed, complacent, reluctant, or in denial. However that has now changed with few left arguing that Mother Nature is not in peril. Through imperative, sustainability has also become good business — but then we feel it always has been. No longer is it an unwelcome burden or expensive premium but it is increasingly business as usual, resulting both in better buildings and cities. Now that the vast majority is finally on board, we collectively have to hope that it isn’t already too late for the planet…

As a company, you recently became a B Corp member. What does this mean for you and what is the process that a company must follow to join this community?

Being a member of the global B Corp community is great but, in reality, it is simply an affirmation of who we are and always have always been. In our very foundations we are an ethical business.  Joining required only a few minor tweaks to certain aspects of our business, and then a long wait for accreditation by B Lab due to the popularity of the scheme that creates an application backlog. Since becoming a B Corp in March 2022 it’s been brilliant and we were thrilled to be cited almost immediately as a ‘Best For The World’ for the exceptional treatment of our staff.  We have just issued our first B Corp Positive Impact Report which can be read here:
https://www.bennettsassociates.com/media/b-impact-report-22-23/

What does a sustainable building mean to you in practice and how does sustainability add value?

We have always said that sustainable architecture is simply better architecture. This is born out of a deeply rooted conviction about creating solutions that work with, rather than fight their local climate; that have comfortable and healthy internal environments; that are made of local materials not transported around the world and that simply belong better where they sit. The added value for the planet is unquestionable and powerful. Increasingly the added value for clients and users is likewise. With ambitious public commitments to carbon neutrality from every major organisation there is now a flight to sustainable buildings – so much so that, in London, we are finding that office clients are prepared to pay a higher rent for Net-Zero Carbon stock. Good for business and better for the planet – but again, is it enough…?

Your first project in Greece, the Syggrou Office Complex, received LEED Platinum certification. Can you give us more information?

We are beyond delighted that the building on Syggrou has achieved LEED ‘Platinum’, especially since the original brief was only for ‘Gold’. It means everything to us, our client DIMAND and the owner Generali. As such it places the building as one of only nine projects in Greece thus far to be ‘Platinum’ rated. Achieving this is down to good base design, client commitment and lots of very hard work by DIMAND’s sustainability managers to fight for every point. Our objective in working in Greece is to use our proven sustainability knowledge in collaboration with local expertise to make a difference and break new ground. To achieve this with our first scheme is everything we could have hoped and striven for – but it’s only the start, there is more to come and we are here to stay!

How do you see the market in Greece, and what challenges do you encounter in our country when implementing Projects?

Greece is a wonderful place to work, due to the stunning context, delightful climate and warmth of the people.  The market appears strong, especially in commercial offices and hospitality where we hope to be carrying out more projects soon.  The conversation on sustainability has also changed markedly in the last 12 months – between my April 2022 visit and a recent guest speaker slot at the ‘Energy Efficiency in Buildings Conference: Athens 2023’ it was palpable and powerful just how much so many have engaged with the need to act and the great opportunity it presents.  We intend to do more here and to keep innovating with new ideas and techniques.  In terms of potential barriers to that, things like your planning regulations could do with a review and other blockers need addressing but we sense the will is there to do that.  As I said in the webinar that we hosted in 2021 called ‘Ready, Steady Greece: The Race to Build Back Greener’ Greece has an incredible opportunity to do just that – and we are here to help ensure this is achieved.

NECP adjusted to meet loftier EU aim for energy usage drop

The Greek government has adjusted its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), setting a loftier energy consumption reduction goal that aligns the plan with an even more ambitious EU target just set.

Greece has now set a loftier 8 percent energy consumption reduction goal, compared to 2020, by the end of the decade, while the EU, through a provisional agreement reached by the European Council Presidency and Members of the European Parliament, is aiming for an overall 11.7 percent drop by 2030, compared to 2020, above the target of a 9 percent reduction that was set in 2021.

The 11.7 percent reduction goal, at EU level, is a binding target and means EU consumers will need to limit annual energy usage to the equivalent of 763 million tons of oil by the end of this decade.

The EU reduction target is not proportionally shared by member states but, instead, takes into account their capacity to limit respective consumption, a realistic approach offering a certain degree of flexibility.

Greek authorities intend to intensify the country’s energy-efficiency drive concerning buildings, further promote smart management of energy consumption, and maintain efforts aiming to reshape consumer behavior for an overall reduction of energy demand.

Extra 10% in support funds for RES, smart networks, efficiency

Investors seeking to develop energy-related projects in the wind, solar, smart network and energy-efficiency fields will be entitled to bonus support funds of as much as 10 percent through the Just Transition Fund.

The European Commission has just approved 1.63 billion euros in support funds for Greece for the development of projects designed to ease the impact of energy and climate-change policies on local economies.

These areas include Megalopoli in the Peloponnese and northern Greece’s western Macedonia region, both lignite-dependent economies undergoing decarbonization, as well as the islands in the Aegean Sea’s north and south and Crete.

Private-sector projects in these areas, including hotels, agritourism units, wind and solar energy facilities, smart networks and energy-efficiency projects will all be entitled to extra support funds.

Government to introduce energy-saving rules, advice

The government is preparing a package of energy-saving measures, in the form of compulsory restrictions at public buildings and advice for households and businesses, plus subsidies and incentives contributing to energy efficiency.

Air conditioning systems at public buildings and ministries will need to be set at a minimum level of 26 degrees Celsius in summer and not above 19 degrees in winter, according to the measures. Also, lighting restrictions will also be imposed for idle rooms at public buildings.

Similar measures had also been introduced for the 2004 Athens Olympics, to overcome serious grid instability and sufficiency concerns.

Households and businesses will be given a series of recommendations, all aimed at preventing energy wastage.

These recommendations will include lower driving speeds, more walking, bicycle usage, self-imposed establishment of car-free days, lower heating-system temperatures in winter, avoidance of electricity consumption during peak-demand hours, as well as no heating and lights in unused rooms.

The government is also preparing new energy-savings programs in the form of subsidies and incentives.

 

 

Brussels promoting energy savings, consumer support extension

The European Commission is expected to present a plan tomorrow including proposals for energy savings, an end to Europe’s reliance on Russian energy sources, as well as support measures for consumers.

The consumer support measures could need to be extended for a longer period, stretching beyond June 30, 2022, according to the proposals.

A draft of the plan, obtained by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency, notes that a reduction in energy demand as a result of a voluntary change in consumer habits, as well as through energy-efficiency fast-track measures, promises to lessen the shortage of Russian oil and gas should Moscow decide to disrupt supply to Europe.

For the short term, the Brussels proposals focus on cooling options concerning households as well as transportation choices, all voluntary. Reduced reliance on private vehicles, lower driving speeds, as well as avoidance of air-conditioning system usage in rooms not in use are among the proposals.

Emphasis is also placed on the use of solar energy at buildings, now more critical than ever before, the Brussels proposals note.

The European Commission’s proposals will be discussed at an EU summit on May 30 and 31 in an effort by leaders to reach common decisions.

 

 

Lignite extraction boosted as part of emergency plan

Power utility PPC has boosted its lignite mining output by an additional 5,000 to 6,000 tons a day for its Meliti and Agios Dimitrios power stations in northern Greece and by an extra 7,000 to 8,000 tons a day for its Megalopoli power station in the Peloponnese, in response to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ call, early in April, for increased lignite reserves should Russia disrupt its natural gas supply to Europe.

The objective is to increase lignite extraction by 45 to 50 percent over a two-year period for reserves amounting to more than 15 million tons, up from the present quantity of 10.5 million tons, which would enable lignite-fired production to reach 6.5 TWh annually, up from 4.5 TWh projected in the current energy plan.

The majority of PPC’s seven lignite-fired power stations will need to be temporarily withdrawn if increased lignite quantities are to be accumulated at the yards of these power stations.

Of the country’s seven lignite-fired power stations, just one, Agios Dimitrios IV, is scheduled to operate today.

The additional 2 TWh of electricity generation that could be produced annually as a result of this initiative would still not suffice if Russia were to stop supplying natural gas to Europe.

Greece’s annual electricity consumption is estimated at 55 TWh. Last year, natural gas-fueled electricity generation covered 20 TWh of the country’s overall electricity demand, with 40 percent of the natural gas used supplied by Russia.

This means Russia’s natural gas was responsible for 8 TWh of Greece’s electricity generation last year. The Greek plan for an additional 2 TWh in generation through greater lignite production would only cover 25 percent of electricity currently produced using Russian natural gas.

Additional LNG shipments, accelerated development of RES projects, and an energy-saving policy for households, businesses and industry will also be needed to cover the gap.

Energy efficiency subsidy program details out today

Guidelines and details for the latest edition of the Saving at Home subsidy program supporting energy efficiency upgrades of existing homes are expected to be announced today, ahead of a launch of the online platform by mid-December.

The latest edition, budgeted at 632 million euros, will offer subsidies covering as much as 75 percent of project costs.

The online platform’s launch date is expected to be announced today. Sources believe the platform will be opened for applications on December 15. The platform will remain open for 30 days from its date of launch.

The latest edition of the subsidy program will not offer different application deadlines based on geographical regions, as has been the case with previous editions.

In another change, priority will be given to applicants with greater need. The energy ministry, as part of a wider effort to counter energy poverty, has established a new and separate category to offer subsidies worth a total of 100 million euros to vulnerable households.

The new Saving at Home edition will also take into account the sharp price rise in building materials, increasing by 15 percent the subsidy program’s expense limits for a wide range of project materials.

 

Saving at Home energy efficiency subsidy applications from mid-November

The latest edition of the Saving at Home program subsidizing energy efficiency upgrades of existing homes is expected to open for applications in mid-November.

The application period is planned to remain open to interested parties for one month. Unlike previous editions, for which applications were accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, the new program’s prioritization will be based on a series of social and financial criteria.

Also, the energy ministry is considering to increase a project budget maximum for applicants to 200 euros per square meter from 180 euros per square meter as a result of recent price increases in building materials and equipment.

The latest Saving at Home edition is expected to provide energy sufficiency upgrade subsidies for a further 50,000 households throughout the country.

Applicants will need to own the properties to be upgraded and use them as their main homes. Applications will be limited to one person.

The energy efficiency upgrade subsidies will range from 40 to 75 percent of each project’s cost, depending on personal and family income criteria.

Criteria benefitting disabled persons, families with many children and single-parent families, as well as climate-related criteria for respective areas, have also been introduced for the new Saving at Home program.

Ministry working on Electra program for public building upgrades

Besides its preparatory work for the next edition of the Saving at Home program subsidizing energy efficiency upgrades of homes, the energy ministry is also moving ahead with its Electra program, designed to subsidize upgrades of public buildings.

The Electra program, worth 500 million euros, will aim to provide energy savings totaling 230,000 MWh by 2025 as result of energy efficiency upgrades to public buildings.

Energy ministry officials aim to announce the Electra program’s details within the next two months so that interested eligible parties can begin preparing their applications.

Public office buildings, hospitals, medical clinics, schools and other education institutions, cultural centers, sport facilities, as well as care centers for the elderly, underprivileged and children will all be eligible for Electra program upgrade subsidies.

Buildings will need to be used at least eight months per year to be eligible for the program, according to one of the prerequisites expected to be set.

The Electra program will remain open for applicants until all its available funds have been absorbed.

Details imminent for October’s ‘Saving at Home’ subsidies

The energy ministry is set, any day now, to announce the details of the next Saving at Home program subsidizing energy efficiency upgrades ahead of its launch, planned for October, according to an announcement made by energy minister Kostas Skrekas late last month.

Once launched, the Saving at Home online platform will remain open for one month, the minister has informed, to give interested households sufficient time to submit all required supporting documents.

The ministry has set an objective for energy efficiency upgrades of 50,000 homes through the new program, a 38 percent increase compared to the previous cycle.

The new subsidy program, worth a total of 632 million euros, is expected to offer subsidies averaging 62 percent of energy efficiency project costs.

The annual objective for energy savings is expected to be exceeded by 108 percent.

A first-come, first-served criterion is being abandoned for this latest edition of the subsidy program. Instead, applications will be assessed based on energy-efficiency potential, income, and social criteria.

Priority will be given to low-income households, individuals with special needs, single-parent families, long-term unemployed, large families and households with increased energy needs.

The energy-saving potential of applications will be the most important criterion, representing a 50 percent coefficient in the overall assessment. Personal or family income levels will be the next most important factor, representing 15 percent of the overall assessment.

Energy poverty plan, worth €2.1bn, for affected households

An energy ministry action plan for 2021 to 2030 intended to tackle energy poverty, includes funding programs worth a total of 2.1 billion euros that promise long-term support to vulnerable households by improving energy efficiency and promoting the use of RES options at homes.

The plan, forwarded for public consultation last Friday, is expected to benefit approximately 300,000 low-income households.

The plan envisions subsidies covering up to 80 percent of energy efficiency upgrades for affected households as well as RES system installations covering their energy needs.

The action plan’s section supporting energy efficiency upgrades will be combined with the existing Saving at Home program, now into its third edition.

In the EU, households are deemed to be below the energy poverty line if their energy costs needed to maintain an adequate level of warmth exceed 10 percent of income.

 

 

Details of new energy efficiency subsidies plan published this week

The energy ministry’s plan for the latest edition of the “Saving at Home – Becoming Autonomous” program subsidizing energy efficiency upgrades is expected to be published by the end of this week, possibly tomorrow, ahead of it launch, not expected before October.

The new subsidy program, worth a total of 632 million euros, is expected to offer subsidies averaging 62 percent of the respective total cost of energy efficiency projects.

This week’s announcement of the plan will give interested parties time to study the subsidy program’s details and prepare supporting documents for their applications.

A first-come, first-served criterion is being abandoned for this latest edition of the subsidy program. Instead, applications will be assessed based on energy-efficiency potential, income, and social criteria.

Priority will be given to low-income households, individuals with special needs, single-parent families, long-term unemployed, large families and households with increased energy needs.

The energy-saving potential of applications will be the most important criterion, serving as a 50 percent coefficient in the overall assessment. Personal or family income levels will be the next most important factor, representing 15 percent of the overall assessment.

New energy efficiency subsidies exclude PVs, vehicle rechargers

The latest edition of the “Saving at Home – Becoming Autonomous” program subsidizing energy efficiency upgrades, expected to be announced on Thursday by the energy and environment ministry, will focus on domestic energy efficiency upgrades and not offer subsidy support for domestic installations of photovoltaic systems and electric vehicle recharging units.

Applicants with income levels below the poverty line, deemed, by the ministry, as personal incomes of up to 5,000 euros per annum and family incomes of up to 12,000 euros per annum, will be given priority.

Also, low-income applicants will be entitled to greater subsidy amounts representing 65 percent of efficiency upgrade expenses.

The new subsidy program, planned to be launched in September, is expected to be worth 500 million euros. Successful applicants will each be entitled to subsidy support of up to 50,000 euros, unchanged from the program’s previous edition.

Applications will not be processed on a first-come, first-served basis but, instead, priority will be determined by a combination of the following factors: applicant income level and number of people living in each household; age of building; and regional climate conditions.

Applicants who present plans promising to maximize energy efficiency levels with lower investment amounts will also be given priority.

 

New low-end income category for energy efficiency upgrade subsidies

The energy ministry plans to add a sixth income bracket, covering low-income earners, to a latest and forthcoming edition of a Saving at Home program subsidizing energy efficiency upgrades of homes.

The additional category, promising to offer greater subsidy amounts for low-income earners, will apply for individuals with annual income levels of up to 5,000 euros and families with total annual income of up to 12,000 euros.

Applicants belonging to this category will be entitled to subsidies covering up to 65 percent of energy efficiency upgrade costs at homes.

According to sources, a project-cost maximum of 50,000 euros will be applied.

The latest edition of the Saving at Home, close to being finalized, is set for pre-announcement in preparation for the subsidy platform’s September launch.

Details imminent for next energy-efficiency subsidies offer

The latest edition of the Saving at Home program subsidizing energy efficiency upgrades of homes is just about ready. Its details will most likely be announced next week by energy minister Kostas Skrekas in preparation for a launch of the applications platform in September, sources have informed.

The new edition will aim for energy efficiency upgrades of 50,000 homes and investments totaling one billion euros, the energy ministry’s secretary-general Alexandra Sdoukou informed during a speech at a recent TEE (Technical Chamber of Greece) event.

As has previously applied, applicants will need to submit plans upgrading the energy-efficiency ratings of their homes by three levels, determined by a points system, in order to qualify for subsidy support.

A revised appraisal system will be introduced. It will factor in the degree of energy savings promised by respective home upgrades as well as a points system with factors such as regional climate conditions; existing energy-efficiency ratings of buildings; age of buildings; as well as income levels of applicants combined with social criteria such as unemployment records, disabilities and single-parent family status.

PPC to offer energy efficiency services following rival moves

The board at power utility PPC, which has lined up a shareholders’ meeting for June 4, will propose company statute revisions including one to facilitate the company’s entry into energy efficiency services, following dynamic moves into this sector by rival suppliers.

The board will propose to shareholders a corporate statute addition concerning the purpose of its operation and activity, covering: “Trade, supply, sale, various related products and equipment, as well as the provision of products and services for the design, implementation, installation, management and financing of energy production, heating, cooling and energy efficiency systems in buildings and facilities “.

According to sources, PPC has already begun planning its move into energy efficiency services, through which consumers will be able to install roof-mounted solar panels at homes combined with net metering. PPC also plans to provide specialized, digital solutions for enterprises and facilities to limit their energy consumption levels.

In other company developments, PPC has decided to maintain two board posts, on its eleven-member board, for worker representatives.

Legislative priority for energy storage, offshore wind farms

Legislative action will soon be taken by the energy ministry for the RES sector and energy storage systems, as well as offshore wind farm development, the key pillars of the country’s energy transition plan, energy minister Kostas Skrekas has told an online event staged by research and policy institute diaNEOsis on “The Energy Sector in Greece and the Climate Crisis”.

“We are preparing an institutional framework for energy storage. RES units cannot operate without storage,” the minister told the event, referring, once again, to a plan for power purchase agreements (PPAs) between industrial enterprises and RES producers.

An institutional framework for offshore wind farms, the energy transition’s second main component, is also being prepared to cover spatial matters and utilization of sea areas as an energy source, Skrekas noted.

Energy efficiency project support programs worth between 4 and 4.5 billion euros are planned to be offered over the next few years for building upgrades, the minister also told the event.

Commenting on electromobility, Skrekas praised the success of recent incentives offered for electric vehicle purchases, noting that 10 percent of new vehicle registrations in 2021 concern electric and hybrid models.

Crete-Athens grid link omitted from Greek RRF proposal

A grid interconnection to link Crete with Athens has been omitted from a national plan containing 112 projects for which financial support will be sought through the European Commission’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.

It was the energy sector’s only surprise omission from the government’s plan for RRF support, to be submitted to Greek Parliament within the next few days for ratification before being forwarded to the European Commission.

Even so, progress of the Crete-Athens grid interconnection project, vital for Crete’s energy sufficiency without reliance on high-cost local power stations, will not be affected by the decision as a number of other financing options remain available, authorities have stressed.

These include the National Strategic Reference Framework and the Just Transition Fund.

The national RRF plan was discussed at a cabinet meeting yesterday ahead of its presentation, planned for tomorrow.

A proposal for a 200 million-euro injection into the RES special account, facing deficit territory, has been included in the national plan.

Other key features of the plans are: the country’s energy efficiency upgrade program for homes, businesses and public buildings; the decarbonization plan; installation of smart meters; upgrade and undergrounding of transmission lines; as well as development of electric vehicle recharging infrastructure.

Ministry approves strategy for emission-free buildings by 2050

The energy ministry has approved a report detailing a long-term strategy for the renovation of public and private buildings into carbon emission-free units of elevated energy efficiency by 2050.

The aim is to transform existing buildings into units of virtually-zero energy consumption, the report noted.

Given the fact that buildings currently represent almost 40 percent of overall energy consumption, a large-scale upgrade of existing buildings and construction of new eco-friendly buildings requiring minimal energy consumption is deemed necessary.

This prospect would offer tremendous energy consumption and cost savings for dwellers and users while also improving living standards in terms of comfort, security and health, the report notes.

Energy efficiency upgrade measures concerning 2020 to 2030 are already being implemented through the National Energy and Climate Plan, aiming for upgrades of 12 to 15 percent of buildings over this ten-year period.

However, more ambitious measures, including stricter exterior surface insulation standards for new buildings and a greater number of upgrades at existing buildings will be needed for close-to-zero carbon emissions in this sector by 2050, according to the report.

Energy consumption at buildings will need to fall 8 percent by 2030, compared to 2015, and close to 40 percent by 2050, the report notes.

 

RES spatial plan to be delivered within 2021, Action Plan notes

The completion of a RES sector spatial plan within the current year has been included in an energy ministry Action Plan for 2021, just published along with the respective action plans of all other ministries.

The energy ministry’s action plan lists interventions planned for 2021 in nine areas under its authority, including energy-sector privatizations, energy market reforms, support for decarbonization and recycling, adoption of circular economic principles, greenhouse gas emission reduction, the tackling of climate change effects, as well as green energy transition.

RES sector measures this year will help cut down the time needed by new RES projects for licensing procedures to two years, the ministry anticipates in its action plan.

It also expects the installation, by the end of the year, of at least 2,000 recharging units for electric vehicles in public areas, including along highways, and at private properties, including domestic and commercial.

On the privatization front, the energy ministry expects all seven energy privatization plans to have been completed or reached an advanced stage by the end of the year.

On energy market reforms, the adoption of a remuneration mechanism for grid sufficiency, to replace a transitional mechanism remunerating flexibility, is a standout feature.

The energy ministry also intends to adopt, as Greek law, an EU directive promoting energy storage and demand response systems.

The ministry’s action plan also anticipates the signing of agreements this year for distribution network development and RES penetration support. It also expects DEDDIE/HEDNO, the distribution network operator, to announce a tender for the installation of smart power meters within the current year.

Taking into account plans by DEDDIE/HEDNO and power grid operator IPTO, the ministry expects investments in distribution and transmission networks to reach one billion euros this year.

Investments for gas network upgrades and expansion are expected to reach at least 300 million euros, primarily driven by projects planned by gas distributor DEDA, covering all areas around the country except for the wider Athens, Thessaloniki and Thessaly areas.

On international projects, the action plan notes that a Greek-Bulgarian gas pipeline project, the IGB, promising to significantly diversify Greece’s gas sources, will be completed by the end of 2021.

A latest edition of the Saving at Home program subsidizing energy efficiency upgrades of properties, budgeted at one billion euros, will stimulate work on 80,000 buildings in 2021, according the energy ministry’s action plan.

This activity will contribute to a National Energy and Climate Plan objective for an improvement, by 2030, of energy efficiency at buildings by 38 percent, reducing energy consumption to levels below those registered in 2007, the action plan notes.

 

New ‘Saving at Home’ plan to be based on heating subsidies model

A latest edition of the Saving at Home program subsidizing energy efficiency upgrades of households, expected to be announced towards the end of this coming summer, will be revised to feature climate and income criteria, reflecting a system already used to determine heating cost subsidy levels.

A chart previously prepared by the National Meteorological Service (EMY) to determine heating subsidy allocations will now also be adopted for the energy ministry’s latest Saving at Home program, sources informed.

The existing EMY model will be tweaked to better suit the Saving at Home program, taking into account both heating and cooling needs of individual households. Income criteria will also be taken into account, prioritizing lower-income households. Applicants with plans for energy efficiency upgrades of higher degree are also expected to benefit.

The EMY chart divides the country into 200,000 plots, offering respective details on average temperature levels and number of hours of heating needed in a day by households. A point system determines the level of heating subsidies entitled by each area.

The Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE) will also contribute to the energy ministry’s effort for the next Saving at Home program.

Saving at Home subsidy platform revisions made for broader access

The Saving at Home subsidy program supporting energy efficiency upgrades of properties was relaunched today after being suspended for technical improvements to its online platform accepting applications.

Technical interventions were made to rectify a severe imbalance in the processing of bids that benefited larger-scale professionals of the building industry, such as big civil engineering firms using specialized software for swifter access to the platform.

Individuals and smaller firms, as a consequence, were blocked from the system, which operates on a first-come, first-served basis until subsidy funds allocated to specific regions around Greece are exhausted.

Interested parties now have a five-minute time limit to fill in application details and lodge their bids from the moment they enter the system. This time restriction will secure fairer play by offering broader access to the platform, energy ministry officials explained.

Revisions were also made to simplify application procedures for subsidy bids concerning apartment blocks. Subsequently, applicants belonging to this category do not need to provide bank account details until a latter date.

Today’s platform relaunch began with subsidy applications for the east Macedonia and Thrace region.

The online platform opens for west Macedonia residents on January 27, property owners in central Macedonia can submit applications as of January 29, while interested parties in Thessaly can lodge bids as of February 1. The category for apartment blocks opens February 3 for the entire country.

The platform’s opening time, 10am, remains unchanged.

Saving at Home subsidy platform restarting following improvements

The Saving at Home subsidy program supporting energy efficiency upgrades of properties is set to be relaunched on January 25 after being suspended for two weeks to make technical improvements to its online platform accepting applications.

A severe imbalance in the processing of bids prompted the intervention.

Larger-scale professionals of the building industry, such as big civil engineering firms backed by specialized software, were able to achieve collective and swifter processing of their applications, blocking out, as a consequence, bids lodged by individuals or smaller professional firms.

Application deadlines for the remainder of regions around the country still not serviced have been deferred by two weeks.

Interested parties in the east Macedonia and Thrace region may lodge their subsidy applications as of January 25. The online platform opens for west Macedonia residents on January 27, property owners in central Macedonia can submit applications as of January 29, while interested parties in Thessaly can lodge bids as of February 1.

The category for apartment blocks opens February 3 for the entire country.

Swift action taken for Saving at Home subsidy platform issues

The energy ministry is making technical improvements to an online platform accepting subsidy applications for energy efficiency upgrades of buildings following reports of a severe imbalance in the processing of bids.

‘Saving at Home’ subsidy program applications submitted by larger-scale professionals of the building industry, such as big civil engineering firms, are being processed collectively and making it through the system, blocking out, as a consequence, bids lodged by individuals or smaller professional firms.

Newly appointed energy minister Kostas Skrekas has ordered swift action for functional improvements of the platform after being notified of the imbalances by ministry officials and the Technical Chamber of Greece (TEE).

Also, the minister has decided to delay, by two weeks, the starting date of the platform for the remainder of regions around the country still not serviced.