The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate Change adopted on the 10th of August 2012 measures in order to enhance the energy sector. The new ministerial decisions concern the reduction of the feed in tariffs for the sale of electric energy produced by photovoltaic systems, the suspension of the licensing procedure for photovoltaic stations and the increase of the public television fee rate that is granted to the renewable energy sources special account.
Specifically, decision nr. Y.A.P.E.F1/2300/oik.16933 amends decision nr. Y.A.P.E/F1/2262/31.1.2012 as regards the pricing of the electric energy produced by photovoltaic stations. With the new decision the feed in tariffs are reduced for the second time in the last year. It is noted that the new prices apply to the new entrants and do not affect PV stations that have already signed the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) or have already filed a compete application for the signing of the PPA, on the condition that the trial operation period or – for PV stations that are not required to conduct a trial operation – the activation of the connection, commences within 18 months (for PV stations with installed capacity up to 10 MW) or 36 months (for PV stations with installed capacity equal or more than 10 MW). In case the trial operation period, or the activation of the connection does not take place within the aforementioned period, the PV station receives the price that is effective on the date of the actual trial operation or the activation of the connection according to the recently adopted decision.
Furthermore, according to decision nr. Y.A.P.E/F1/2300/oik.16932 the filing of new applications to the Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE) for the issuance of a Production License for PV stations, as well as the examination of pending applications is suspended. Similarly, the filing of a request to the competent System Operator for the issuance of a connection terms offer as regards PV stations that are excluded form the obligation to obtain a Production License, as well as the examination of pending requests is suspended. The respective decision excludes from suspension PVs on roof-tops and PV projects that have been included in the fast-track procedure.
The measures also include the increase of the television fee rate that is granted to the renewable sources special account which amounts to the 25% of the public television fee.
The respective decisions were adopted in order to ensure the sustainability of the payment mechanism of the RES producers through the RES special account of art. 143 of Law 4001/2011, and contribute to the smooth operation of the installed PV stations as well as the development of new ones in the future.
Edited by: Tina Koutsopoulou