January 16, 2026
by in News

Self-consumption photovoltaic systems in Greece must add remote control devices

Solar power facilities for self-consumption in Greece now require set point equipment.

The Hellenic Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO or DEDDIE) announced that owners of self-consumption installations of over 400 kW have eight months, until September 15, to make necessary upgrades. Set point equipment includes specialized telemetering devices that the network operator uses for remote control and curtailment of solar power production.

Such equipment was first added in 2024 in other categories of photovoltaics, to ensure that HEDNO can dial down production at times when renewable energy production exceeds demand in the country. The effort is aimed at ensuring system stability and avoiding blackouts such as the one that happened in Spain last April.

According to Energypress, so far 4,300 MW of renewables units connected to the distribution network have added set-point equipment, out of a total of 5,500 MW deemed necessary. The authorities are aiming for the majority of the capacity to be ready by spring to avoid overcapacity. It’s a season that traditionally brings high renewable energy production and low demand in Greece. In 2024 and 2025, very low wholesale prices and high curtailments became a regular occurrence in the springtime.

As for the transmission network, all required renewable electricity plants have made the necessary upgrades.

Producers must comply or be disconnected

HEDNO said the new requirement includes units both in the net metering and virtual net metering regimes, as well as the ones with and without storage.

Once proper upgrades have taken place, producers must submit a notification form to the distribution operator, along with necessary technical documents. Owners who do not comply in time, will be subject to disconnection from the grid, HEDNO said.

Its goal is to make horizontal curtailments from now on, only reducing production levels across photovoltaics, without having to shut down some of them entirely.

Post Views:38
January 16, 2026
by in News

Self-consumption photovoltaic systems in Greece must add remote control devices

Solar power facilities for self-consumption in Grece now require set point equipment.

The Hellenic Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO or DEDDIE) announced that owners of self-consumption installations of over 400 kW have eight months, until September 15, to make necessary upgrades. Set point equipment includes specialized telemetering devices that the network operator uses for remote control and curtailment of solar power production.

Such equipment was first added in 2024 in other categories of photovoltaics, to ensure that HEDNO can dial down production at times when renewable energy production exceeds demand in the country. The effort is aimed at ensuring system stability and avoiding blackouts such as the one that happened in Spain last April.

According to Energypress, so far 4,300 MW of renewables units connected to the distribution network have added set-point equipment, out of a total of 5,500 MW deemed necessary. The authorities are aiming for the majority of the capacity to be ready by spring to avoid overcapacity. It’s a season that traditionally brings high renewable energy production and low demand in Greece. In 2024 and 2025, very low wholesale prices and high curtailments became a regular occurrence in the springtime.

As for the transmission network, all required renewable electricity plants have made the necessary upgrades.

Producers must comply or be disconnected

HEDNO said the new requirement includes units both in the net metering and virtual net metering regimes, as well as the ones with and without storage.

Once proper upgrades have taken place, producers must submit a notification form to the distribution operator, along with necessary technical documents. Owners who do not comply in time, will be subject to disconnection from the grid, HEDNO said.

Its goal is to make horizontal curtailments from now on, only reducing production levels across photovoltaics, without having to shut down some of them entirely.

Post Views:34
January 9, 2026
by in News

New auction announced in Greece for 600 MW for electricity for vulnerable households

The Greek government specified terms and conditions for participation in a new kind of renewable energy auction, covering both wind and solar energy.

The auction comes as part of the Apollo initiative, aimed at reducing energy costs for vulnerable households across the country and fighting energy poverty. In total, 200 MW of solar plus batteries and 400 MW of wind will be auctioned.

Wind power projects of at least 60 kW may participate, with no limit set for photovoltaics. All applicants must have final connection terms from the distribution or transmission operator. Their remuneration will be based on a contract for difference (CfD). Investors can also gain a grant from European Union programs, the National Development Plan or other sources, according to the decree.

This will be a single-step static auction, with the offer price ceiling set at EUR 80 per MWh for wind projects and EUR 75 per MWh for photovoltaics with battery storage.

Equally important, the competition level is 40%, meaning that 60% of the offered capacity will be awarded up to a maximum of 600 MW. On top of that, at least three projects from different investors must participate in the process. Furthermore, no participant can apply for more than 25% of the total offered capacity, to ensure a level playing field.

Steep timeframe for selected projects

Concerning next steps, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAEWW or RAAEY) is expected to officially proclaim the auction in the next few weeks, before the end of January. The regulator will also specify the letter of guarantee investors will have to submit, as well as the rest of the details. The submission of offers is expected to last by the end of February.

The ministry said the construction of solar farms with batteries must be completed by the end of 2027, while wind farms need to come online by September 2028.

Consumers who will benefit from cheaper renewable electricity will be notified via their power suppliers about their eligibility.

Post Views:56
January 9, 2026
by in News

New auction announced in Greece for 600 MW for electricity for vulnerable households

The Greek government specified terms and conditions for participation in a new kind of renewable energy auction, covering both wind and solar energy.

The auction comes as part of the Apollo initiative, aimed at reducing energy costs for vulnerable households across the country and fighting energy poverty. In total, 200 MW of solar plus batteries and 400 MW of wind will be auctioned.

Wind power projects of at least 60 kW may participate, with no limit set for photovoltaics. All applicants must have final connection terms from the distribution or transmission operator. Their remuneration will be based on a contract for difference (CfD). Investors can also gain a grant from European Union programs, the National Development Plan or other sources, according to the decree.

This will be a single-step static auction, with the offer price ceiling set at EUR 80 per MWh for wind projects and EUR 75 per MWh for photovoltaics with battery storage.

Equally important, the competition level is 40%, meaning that 60% of the offered capacity will be awarded up to a maximum of 600 MW. On top of that, at least three projects from different investors must participate in the process. Furthermore, no participant can apply for more than 25% of the total offered capacity, to ensure a level playing field.

Steep timeframe for selected projects

Concerning next steps, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste and Water (RAEWW or RAAEY) is expected to officially proclaim the auction in the next few weeks, before the end of January. The regulator will also specify the letter of guarantee investors will have to submit, as well as the rest of the details. The submission of offers is expected to last by the end of February.

The ministry said the construction of solar farms with batteries must be completed by the end of 2027, while wind farms need to come online by September 2028.

Consumers who will benefit from cheaper renewable electricity will be notified via their power suppliers about their eligibility.

Post Views:52
January 4, 2026
by in News

Greece reboots Apollo program against energy poverty

The Greek government has redesigned and rebooted the Apollo self-consumption program, aimed at reducing energy costs for vulnerable consumers.

Initially, Apollo was introduced to support households, municipalities, water utilities and local irrigation organizations. Each of Greece’s 13 regions, also known as peripheries, would have a green power plant, and eligible consumers who join a local energy community get discounted electricity bills.

However, the first part, which included households, was not realized in time to draw EUR 100 million from the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). It expires in June 2026.

Tsafos: Both segments set for completion

“Apollo was one of the plans that we could not carry out in time, therefore we excluded it from RRF and increased funding to other initiatives, such as energy efficiency in houses,” Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Nikos Tsafos explained earlier in December.

Now the government announced that the first phase would be continued using different funding sources, according to the new joint ministerial decree. In fact, the number of beneficiaries is higher than in the original version. A second phase would follow to support remaining consumer categories, based on a different decree.

“Our goal remains to complete both segments and we are trying to find new funding tools”, Tsafos added.

New auctions and deadlines

Based on the new plan, auctions will take place for 400 MW in wind farms and 200 MW in solar farms, with the second category being combined with battery storage. Selected wind power projects must be completed by September 30, 2028, and the ones for photovoltaics have until the end of 2027.

The decree also stipulates that auction participants may not be selected for more than 25% of total capacity offered in each auction. Every project must be mature, with final connection terms from a network operator.

Last but not least, solar farms without storage may also participate in the auction, as long as they include a battery afterwards in their license.

Post Views:88
January 1, 2026
by in News

Greece reboots Apollo program against energy poverty

The Greek government has redesigned and rebooted the Apollo self-consumption program, aimed at reducing energy costs for vulnerable consumers.

Initially, Apollo was introduced to support households, municipalities, water utilities and local irrigation organizations. Each of Greece’s 13 regions, also known as peripheries, would have a green power plant, and eligible consumers who join a local energy community get discounted electricity bills.

However, the first part, which included households, was not realized in time to draw EUR 100 million from the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). It expires in June 2026.

Tsafos: Both segments set for completion

“Apollo was one of the plans that we could not carry out in time, therefore we excluded it from RRF and increased funding to other initiatives, such as energy efficiency in houses,” Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Nikos Tsafos explained earlier in December.

Now the government announced that the first phase would be continued using different funding sources, according to the new joint ministerial decree. In fact, the number of beneficiaries is higher than in the original version. A second phase would follow to support remaining consumer categories, based on a different decree.

“Our goal remains to complete both segments and we are trying to find new funding tools”, Tsafos added.

New auctions and deadlines

Based on the new plan, auctions will take place for 400 MW in wind farms and 200 MW in solar farms, with the second category being combined with battery storage. Selected wind power projects must be completed by September 30, 2028, and the ones for photovoltaics have until the end of 2027.

The decree also stipulates that auction participants may not be selected for more than 25% of total capacity offered in each auction. Every project must be mature, with final connection terms from a network operator.

Last but not least, solar farms without storage may also participate in the auction, as long as they include a battery afterwards in their license.

Post Views:51
September 15, 2025
by in News

Greece loses EU grant intended for renewable electricity for vulnerable consumers

The ambitious Apollo program, which the Greek government outlined in late 2023, is losing EUR 100 million. The European Union earlier approved the grant for investments in renewable energy and storage, intended to lower energy costs for vulnerable consumers through self-consumption.

The first phase of the Apollo program was envisaged to help vulnerable households. It aimed to support renewable energy projects, through auctions, of 400 MW to 500 MW overall, combined with battery systems.

Each of Greece’s 13 regions, also known as peripheries, would get a green power plant, and eligible consumers who join a local energy community get discounted electricity bills. Therefore, the program is in the form of virtual self-consumption. It is the first of its kind in the region that Balkan Green Energy News tracks.

Apollo fails to take off on time

The scheme was supposed to benefit from an EUR 100 million grant from the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). It is implemented via the National Recovery and Resilience Plan Greece 2.0.

However, Apollo was significantly delayed and now the deadlines are considered impossible to achieve, even if they are extended. It means RRF funds are going to be lost. Energypress reported that they have already been removed from the budget.

Namely, the issue is with the batteries. Now their costs would have to be covered entirely by the producers. In turn, they are expected to lock higher prices in Apollo’s auctions, possibly passing them on to end consumers and making the whole initiative less effective at combating energy poverty.

It should be noted that the rest of Apollo remains intact for the time being, despite the setback. The loss of funds concerns household consumers with special tariff A. Funding is still available, in theory, for the other category of vulnerable households, defined by different income criteria.

The entire initiative also aims to lower energy costs for municipal authorities, water utilities and irrigation associations. They haven’t been affected so far.

Standalone battery plants also at risk

Another Greek initiative, for subsidized standalone battery plants, faces very short deadlines. It is eligible for EUR 341 million in RRF funding. In total, projects for 900 MW overall have been selected through three auctions.

The first wave of investors should declare connection readiness this month, so their facilities can become operational by the end of 2025.

HAESS: Selected projects may not receive support

They have complained of a lengthy licensing process and logistical difficulties. The investors asked the Ministry of Environment and Energy for an extension.

In July, the Ministry of Finance submitted a request for the sixth RRF tranche, EUR 2.1 billion in grants, after completing 39 more targets. If it is approved by the administration in Brussels, Greece will have secured EUR 23.4 billion overall, or 65% of allotted funds.

Post Views:69