The Greek Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure has increased its target for a merchant standalone battery energy storage system (BESS) rollout to 3. 55 GW against the background of rising demand for flexible power and strong investment interest in the market.
Currently there is a growing interest for investments in storage facilities in Greece. Licensed projects mostly consist of Li-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS), either stand-alone or integrated in PVs, as well as PHS facilities .
Greece's latest auction has awarded subsidies to 188.9 MW of standalone, front-of-the-meter, utility-scale battery energy storage. The auction was the third and final edition of a battery storage subsidy program launched in 2023, with the country now turning its focus towards a new 4.7 GW unsibsidized BESS scheme.
Greece has emerged as one of the countries with the largest pipeline of battery storage projects, but as yet there has been little activity on the ground. This is changing as the long-awaited storage subsidy auctions have started, with the first projects being awarded support for both investment and operating costs.
Initially a response to the COVID 19 pandemic, the focus has pivoted to support Greece's green energy transition. The storage auctions themselves require further approval under EU State aid rules. The pipeline of prospective battery storage projects now approaches 27GW, with over 500 projects granted a storage license.
According to the Greek National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), the nation aims to install 4.3 GW of storage by 2030. Thus far, 900 MW has been allocated via the Greek Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste, and Water (RAAEY) tenders. Therefore, the remaining share would be delivered under the new plan but without any subsidy support.
Funding was first announced in 2021 as part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. Initially a response to the COVID 19 pandemic, the focus has pivoted to support Greece's green energy transition. The storage auctions themselves require further approval under EU State aid rules.