The Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Energy Producers (SPEF) has criticised Greece’s revised National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) – which is currently in the public consultation phase.
President of the SPEF Dr. Stelios Loumakis called for the government to immediately stop accepting license applications and its investment in solar development. Loumakis added:
“[The plan] attempts to beautify a frenetic situation of monolithic overdevelopment in photovoltaic installed capacity, as a result of overly generous licensing policies.”
Furthermore, the association’s letter to Greece’s Ministry of the Environment and Energy stated that overinvestment in a Greek solar market would leave investors dealing with increasing curtailments over time.
Greece’s connection priority currently includes about 14GW of renewable energy plants, 15GW more in obtained connection terms, and 2.4GW from projects via power purchase agreements. Developers covering 45GW more currently have producer certificates – and thus the potential to get grid access.
SPEF’s predictions
SPEF predicts that Greece’s solar deployment will reach 19GW by 2030, despite hovering at 11GW in 2024. According to the association, renewables capacity is anticipated to increase from 21.7GW to 34.5GW by 2030.
It additionally states that, by 2030, curtailments will go over 25% even if all of the NECP’s energy storage goals are met. To this end, the association warns that partnerships with the MENA region would cause a “flood” of cheap electricity.
“The state needs to face the technical realities, away from any political embellishment,” Loumakis concluded.
