IENE’s
Colloquium on “The Critical Choices for RES
Investments in Greece” that took place yesterday afternoon, April 4, , at the
Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) highlighted the critical
condition of market operation in the Greek RES sector, as well as the
responsibility of all government and regulatory authorities and organizations
involved.
Mr. Michalis E. Philippou,
Operational Manager of Electricity Transactions of the Greek Electricity Market
Operator (LAGIE S.A.),
stressed
that the RES market operation will soon “get out of control”, thus underlining
the need for immediate measures to be taken by the government in order to secure
adequate funding to enable the functioning of the operator, the channeling of
regular payments to producers and, ultimately, to bring relief to the market
from the current financial pressures.
As
the
“
sunset
”
effect
is now taking hold
in
the
Greek
PV
sector
,
too
,
Mr
.
Philippou
said
that
PV stations operating during the rush hour have now icreased so much in
number, that they significantly affect the system’s electric load
,
causing stability problems. As far as
LAGIE’s ever growing financial
deficit is concerned
,
Mr Philippou referred to the Operator’s projections for 1,5 bl. euros for this
year’s income and of liabilities exceeding 2 bl. euros. According to these
figures, the overall deficit will eventually rise to 700 milion euros, which is
clearly an unsustainable situation.
Prof. Pantelis Kapros, of E3MLab/NTUA and
Chairman of IENE's Scientific Committee
wondered whether there has been at all any planning
by the State and not just a heap of inconsistent and populist actions (e.g.
“agrarian PV”) taken by several governments during recent years, which has led Greece’s
RES market to its present deadlock.
According to
Mr. John Chatzivasiliadis, Mechanical
– Electrical Engineer, and IENE’s Secretary General, several issues concerning
the RES sector have been misinterpreted by both the investors and the
policymakers. He referred to the interconnection of the islands in the Aegean
with the mainland which, although it is agreed by all concerned as a much
needed action to help the expansion of the country’ s grid, it is often
perceived as a solution exclusively for RES electricity generation. As Mr. Chatzivasiliadis
highlighted, there are other “popular” ideas, as the offshore wind farms, which
are, however, an expensive technology unsuitable for Greek seas.
In addition, representatives of the main RES industry
associations presented their views on the urgent problems stemming from the
enormous and rising deficit of the Electricity Market Operator. As Mr. Mr. Stelios
Loumakis (Chairman, Greek Association of Photovoltaic Producers - SPEF), noted the
fee imposed through Law
4083 failed to solve the problem, as it has an asymmetric effect on the electricity
producers from RES, due to its lack of proportionality as far as the size of
the units and the construction costs are concerned compared to the
FIT paid to the producers.
Consequently
,
a disproportionately large amount of producers is severely affected and will
inevitably face bankruptcy.
Other speakers representing the RES
associations included Dr. Savvas Seimanides (Secretary General, Greek
Association of RES Electricity Producers), Dr. Panagiotis Papastamatiou,
(Chairman, Hellenic Wind Energy Association - ELETAEN), Mr. Alexandros
Zachariou (Chairman, Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Companies - SEF), Mr.
Elias Kakiopoulos (Secretary General, Greek Association of Small Hydropower
Producers - ESMYE) and Mr. Antonis Gerasimou (Chairman, Hellenic Biomass
Company - HELLABIOM). Also, Mr. Dimitris Varvitsiotis (Chief Operation Officer,
Solar Cells Hellas), at his presentation, stressed the importance of the fast
track procedure for accelerating the licensing procedure of RES projects in Greece.
IENE’s Colloquium on the viability of RES
investments, held under the auspices of ACCI, aimed primarily at highlighting
the need for the adoption of urgent measures in order to restore the balance of
RES market operation and, thus, to guarantee the viability of the investments
and the further development of the grid, as well as the safeguarding of the overall
energy sector and its consumers from excessive charges.
This IENE Colloquium was sponsored by the
energy services company EnSCo, as well as by the PV companies Sky Solar and
Solar Cells, whereas the event’s media partners included the daily “Kathimerini”
and the Energia.gr website.