Extension of Deadlines for the Development of RES Projects are Under Review by the Government Due to Covid-19
Extension of Deadlines for the Development of RES Projects are Under Review by the Government Due to Covid-19
Author: Gus J. Papamichalopoulos, KG Law Firm
In view of the ongoing health emergency situation, the Ministry of Environment and Energy (the “MEE”) is rumored to be keeping an open eye and is allegedly currently drafting a Ministerial Decision, tending to the numerous voices of RES producers whose projects’ development is endangered by the implications of this unprecedented crisis. With a view to safeguarding RES investments in Greece, the MEE will purportedly seek to postpone the RES investors’ obligations most likely for a few months in order to assist the viability of the projects.
The interventions will affect the validity period of the necessary licences and administrative acts. Most notably the issues of the duration of the installation licences and the binding grid connection offers, as well as deadlines for the electrification of the RES projects, are major points of concern.
More particularly, the MEE’s initiative will seemingly be aligned with the recommendations of the RES market players, aiming to extend:
- the validity period of the installation licences and the binding grid connection offers (for at least six months if already issued, along with a relevant provision for those to be issued in the following period);
- the electrification deadline for projects securing reference tariffs without having to participate in the RES tenders (from 01 January 2021 to 1 September 2021);
- the electrification deadline for projects that have secured reference tariffs through their successful participation in RES tenders (for at least six months along with a relevant provision for projects that will succeed in the upcoming tenders);
- the electrification deadline for projects exempted from the obligation to participate in RES 3 tenders in accordance with Art. 3(12) of Law 4414/2016 (for at least six months);
- the deadline for the acceptance of the binding grid connection offers (for at least two months if already issued, along with a relevant provision for those to be issued in the following period); and
- the deadlines for the electrification of projects which have successfully participated in RES tenders held in the previous years, as set in the respective RES tender documents.
The aforementioned extensions of the relevant licences and administrative acts are considered essential for the uninterrupted development of RES projects in Greece in this extraordinary period and according to all indications, the MEE proceeds to the appropriate actions.
Author: Gus J. Papamichalopoulos, KG Law Firm
In view of the ongoing health emergency situation, the Ministry of Environment and Energy (the “MEE”) is rumored to be keeping an open eye and is allegedly currently drafting a Ministerial Decision, tending to the numerous voices of RES producers whose projects’ development is endangered by the implications of this unprecedented crisis. With a view to safeguarding RES investments in Greece, the MEE will purportedly seek to postpone the RES investors’ obligations most likely for a few months in order to assist the viability of the projects.
The interventions will affect the validity period of the necessary licences and administrative acts. Most notably the issues of the duration of the installation licences and the binding grid connection offers, as well as deadlines for the electrification of the RES projects, are major points of concern.
More particularly, the MEE’s initiative will seemingly be aligned with the recommendations of the RES market players, aiming to extend:
- the validity period of the installation licences and the binding grid connection offers (for at least six months if already issued, along with a relevant provision for those to be issued in the following period);
- the electrification deadline for projects securing reference tariffs without having to participate in the RES tenders (from 01 January 2021 to 1 September 2021);
- the electrification deadline for projects that have secured reference tariffs through their successful participation in RES tenders (for at least six months along with a relevant provision for projects that will succeed in the upcoming tenders);
- the electrification deadline for projects exempted from the obligation to participate in RES 3 tenders in accordance with Art. 3(12) of Law 4414/2016 (for at least six months);
- the deadline for the acceptance of the binding grid connection offers (for at least two months if already issued, along with a relevant provision for those to be issued in the following period); and
- the deadlines for the electrification of projects which have successfully participated in RES tenders held in the previous years, as set in the respective RES tender documents.
The aforementioned extensions of the relevant licences and administrative acts are considered essential for the uninterrupted development of RES projects in Greece in this extraordinary period and according to all indications, the MEE proceeds to the appropriate actions.
