On 04.11.2024, Law 5151/2024 (OJ’ A’ 173/04.11.2024) entitled “Provisions for the modernization of waste management, the improvement of the energy saving framework, the development of energy projects and addressing urban planning issues” entered into force. The new Law introduces, amongst others, significant provisions related to the promotion of energy storage which can be outlined as follows:
– Inclusion of electricity storage stations to existing or new PV stations
PV stations that have been put into operation after 04.07.2019 and until 31.10.2024 as well as new PV stations that have been granted a Connection Terms Offer (CTO) by 31.10.2024 and which conclude a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) or a PPA either in the form of a Fixed Tariff Operating Aid Agreement or in the form of a Feed in Premium Operating Aid Agreement, may, where technically feasible, be transformed into PV stations with integrated electricity storage “behind the meter” (i.e. stations not being able to absorb energy from the system/network). The owners of the said stations may select to submit a respective application to the Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy and Water (RAWEW) or to the respective competent administrator the latest by 30.04.2025.
The energy which originates from the said storage units and is injected into the grid shall be compensated on the basis of the day-ahead hourly market price and the prices of the other electricity markets according to their participation in them. As for the compensation of the volume of electricity that is injected from the PV station into grid, the corresponding PPA or Operating Aid Agreement shall apply.
– Installation of standalone storage stations by RES stations connected to a common connection point to the network/system.
The owners of the aforementioned PV stations as well as RES stations participating directly to the market without being granted an operating aid which are connected to a common connection point to the network/system, may submit a joint request for the installation of a standalone storage station connected to such common point to the competent administrator. These standalone storage stations may have an installed capacity which shall not exceed the total installed capacity of the RES stations submitting the common request and a useful storage capacity of at least equal to one (1) hour to the total installed capacity of the RES stations in question.
In addition, these stations may inject power which shall not be subject to the static or dynamic limitations provided that an equal amount of power is absorbed simultaneously by the standalone storage stations and shall not be compensated from the electricity markets or granted an operating aid for the power injected that exceeds the above limitations, which is simultaneously absorbed without remuneration by these storage stations.
– Modification of RES stations with integrated storage “behind the meter” and “in front of the meter” to standalone electricity storage stations.
RES stations with integrated storage “behind the meter” as well as those with integrated storage “in front of the meter” i.e. stations that can absorb energy from the grid whose owners have submitted a complete application for the granting of a CTO to the competent administrator, may be amended exclusively to standalone electricity storage stations, in accordance with the relevant regulatory framework, following an application by the holders of the respective licenses to RAWEW.
– Ministerial Decisions to be issued related to standalone electricity storage stations.
Under the Law, it is stipulated that following a ministerial decision (M.D) of the Ministry of Environment and Energy which shall be issued by 31.12.2024 (1st M.D), the criteria for the submission of an application for the granting of a CTO for the installation of a standalone electricity storage station shall be defined.
As it regards RES stations with integrated storage “behind the meter” and those with internal storage “in front of the meter” as well as the owners of RES stations willing to submit an application for the granting of a CTO in accordance the provisions of the said Decision, their Producer Certificates, CTOs, environmental licensing decisions, as well as any other permit or approval, are amended respectively, with absolute priority and even outside the application round period following the license holder request for the amendment of the Producer Certificate to Electricity Storage License.
In addition, by virtue of a subsequent ministerial decision (2nd M.D) which shall be issued within two (2) months from the entry into force of the 1st M.D, the prioritization framework for the selection of the standalone electricity storage stations that shall be granted CTOs on the basis of the criteria to be defined by the 1st M.D shall also be determined. The storage stations to be selected pursuant to the 2nd M.D shall be granted a CTO within four (4) months from its issuance and shall not receive operating aid for the energy they produce.
Moreover, pursuant to a new M.D (3rd M.D) expected to be issued in relation to the power injection restrictions that shall apply to the storage stations connected to Greek Electricity Distribution Network, it is stipulated that the administrator of the said Network shall receive applications for the granting of final CTOs for the installation of standalone electricity storage stations by applying the power injection restrictions as provided for storage stations connected to Greek Electricity Transmission System under M.D ΥΠΕΝ/ΔΑΠΕ ΕΚ/53563/1556/15.5.2023 (OJ’ Β’ 3328/15.05.2023).
Overall, the new Law introduces several other significant provisions aiming to reinforce waste prevention, promote the installation of pilot floating PV stations, ensure electrical space for the installation of small wind turbines, biomass plants and small hydroelectric plants connected to the Greek Electricity Distribution Network as well as enable conventional fuel power plants which have already ceased/are about to cease their operation, to be transformed into electricity storage stations.
Edited by Daphne Sotirchou