GREECE Law and Practice Contributed by: Evangelos (Evans) Courakis, Evangelos Mylonas Tsoumas, Sofia Andreanoudi, Vassiliki Xynou and Ioanna Marouso Argyriou, Koutalidis Law Firm
regime for small-scale installations under 150 kW; (iii) further licensing simplifications for solar equipment with a capacity below 100 kW; (iv) strict enforceability of deadlines in the licensing process via single contact points; (v) streamlined licensing of offshore wind farm licensing through a fixed maximum licensing duration; (vi) new rules governing the submis- sion of binding grid connection offers; and (vii) the introduction of a dedicated procedure for the licensing of heat pumps. • Procedure for grid connection offers for stor- age stations: On 13 March 2025, Ministerial Decision ΥΠΕΝ/ΓΔΕ/28255/1143 was issued, detailing the procedure for submitting appli- cations for the issuance of Definitive Grid Connection Offers for standalone electric- ity storage stations. The decision sets out eligibility requirements, capacity thresholds, technical specifications for storage systems, anti-concentration criteria, and applicable penalties for non-compliance. It also notes that a deadline extension until 30 September 2025 for the submission of applications for such standalone storage projects was sub- sequently granted by the Ministry of Environ- ment and Energy. • New framework on biomethane and hydro- gen: On 4 July 2025, Law 5215/2025 was enacted, introducing for the first time a dedicated and streamlined licensing frame- work for biomethane and hydrogen projects in Greece. The law marks a significant first step toward the promotion and development of such projects. 1.7 Announcements Regarding New Policies In October 2024, Greece updated its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), setting more ambitious carbon and energy targets. The revised plan aims for RES to represent 82% of
the electricity mix by 2030 and commits to a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the same year, compared to 2005 levels. The update also introduces specific adapta- tion measures to prepare energy infrastructure for extreme weather events. Therefore, one of the main focuses for Greece’s energy sector is developing sufficient capacity for energy storage systems, including batteries and pumped hydro storage. According to the NECP, battery storage capacity is expected to reach 4 GW by 2030. In late 2022, a new framework was established to support battery energy storage stations (BESS) providing investment and operational support through three tenders totalling 1,000 MW. The first tender, announced in June 2023, awarded 411.79 MW, and the second tender, announced in November 2023, awarded 299.77 MW. The third tender is yet to be announced. Additionally, the Ministry of Environment and Energy plans to support 1,700 MW of standalone storage capac- ity over the next two years, with new tenders and projects integrated with battery storage. Moreover, the Greek government is prioritising the development of offshore wind farms, aiming for the first projects to be operational by 2030. To facilitate this, a detailed regulatory framework is currently being established. The IPTO’s plan includes reserving 2 GW of electrical capacity for offshore wind parks in Thrace, Crete, the Cyclades, Attica, and the Dodecanese. Pilot pro- jects totalling 600 MW have already started near Alexandroupolis. In 2027, Greece is exploring the potential to launch its first tender for these wind farms, with Eastern Crete as a primary location. Lastly, Greece is advancing its hydrogen strat- egy, aiming to integrate hydrogen as a key com- ponent of its future energy mix. This includes plans for formulating a framework for hydrogen production, storage and utilisation in various
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