Application Procedure for Photovoltaic Installations in Greece

What Has Changed in Greek Legislation:

The laws cited in the original text (3468/06 and 3851/2010) have been fundamentally revised by newer legislation, in particular Law 4685/2020 (modernisation of environmental legislation) and Law 4951/2022 (simplification of renewable energy licensing). Key institutional changes:

• RAE (Regulatory Authority for Energy) is now called RAAEY (Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy and Water).
• DESMIE no longer exists. Agreements on the sale of electricity are now concluded with DAPEEP (Renewable Energy and Guarantees of Origin Operator).
• DEI (PPC) is now only an electricity supplier. DEDDIE (HEDNO – distribution network operator) or ADMIE (transmission network operator) is now responsible for the grid connection.
• The threshold for exemption from the production licence (now the “producer certificate”) has been raised to 1 megawatt (MW).

(Current legal position)

Photovoltaics – Renewable Energy: Application Procedure for PV Installations in Greece (Updated, in line with Law 4951/2022 & 4685/2020)

1. Application Procedure for the Installation of Photovoltaic Systems in Greece

Note 1: the old Laws 3468/06 and 3851/2010 have largely been superseded by Laws 4685/2020 and 4951/2022, in order to simplify and digitalise the permitting procedures for renewable energy. The old system of “production licences” has been replaced by the “producer certificate” (Bebaiosi Paragogou).

Below we provide a summary of the procedures on the basis of the legislation currently in force. The decisive parameter for the permitting procedures is the capacity of the photovoltaic installation concerned. The key threshold today is 1 megawatt (MW).

1.1 Photovoltaic Installations with a Capacity of up to 1 Megawatt (1,000 kWp)

Significantly simplified procedures apply to this category.

• Not required:
• A producer certificate from RAAEY (formerly RAE) (exceptions apply for certain grid-congested areas or non-interconnected islands).
• An installation and operating licence.
• An environmental permit (AEPO) or standard environmental conditions (PPD), provided the installation is not located in NATURA 2000 areas, national parks or archaeological zones.
• A classic building permit (in most cases).
• Required:
• A permit for small-scale works (Έγκριση Εργασιών Μικρής Κλίμακας) from the local building authority.
• A binding grid connection offer and connection agreement with the distribution network operator DEDDIE.
• An agreement on the sale/feed-in of electricity with DAPEEP (or with DEDDIE for islands not connected to the interconnected system).

1.2. Photovoltaic Installations with a Capacity of over 1 Megawatt (MW)

Stricter rules apply to larger installations, which have however been digitalised by Law 4951/2022.

• Required:
• A producer certificate (Βεβαίωση Παραγωγού) issued by RAAEY.
• An environmental permit: standard environmental conditions (PPd) for installations from 1 to 10 MW. For installations over 10 MW, a full environmental impact assessment (AEPO) is required.
• An installation and operating licence (processed digitally via the competent ministry or the decentralised administration).
• A building permit (for necessary buildings, substations, etc.).
• A grid connection agreement with DEDDIE (distribution network) or ADMIE (transmission network, usually for very large projects).
• An operating aid agreement (feed-in remuneration/market premium) with DAPEEP, often following successful participation in a RAAEY tender procedure.

Key (Current Authorities): – DEDDIE:

Hellenic distribution network operator (formerly part of DEI) – ADMIE: independent electricity transmission network operator – DAPEEP: Renewable Energy and Guarantees of Origin Operator (replaced DESMIE/LAGIE) – RAAEY: Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy and Water (formerly RAE)

Useful Notes

• Agricultural land: the installation of PV systems on highly productive agricultural land is strictly regulated and only permitted up to a certain percentage of the total agricultural area of the region concerned.
• Traditional settlements: installation in traditional settlements, historic districts and listed buildings continues to require special permits from architectural and heritage protection authorities.
• Net billing: for self-consumption, the system in Greece has recently been changed from classic net metering to net billing.