Greece to build solar power plants for free electricity for poor households

The government in Athens earmarked EUR 100 million in subsidies for the construction of photovoltaic facilities that will be used to meet the energy needs of households with low incomes.

Minister of Environment and Energy Kostas Skrekas said funds would be allotted for municipalities and regions to install solar power plants of 120 MW in total that would be used exclusively for the people in need. He told Kathimerini in an interview that 30,000 households in Greece would benefit from the program to supply free electricity.

The funds will come from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan Greece 2.0, Skrekas noted. The government earmarked EUR 100 million for the purpose, he added. The minister stressed Greece would support energy communities that benefit those in need.

Skrekas denies the possibility to help energy communities install wind power plants

Energy communities are important for their purpose, not just to promote capital-intensive investments, Skrekas underscored. Asked about the possibility to help energy communities to install wind power plants, he said such facilities require large investments and that energy communities are unlikely to get access to the necessary funding.

Municipalities and local public institutions in Greece are setting up energy communities to develop photovoltaic projects and have their own electricity source

The Municipality of Volos in Thessaly revealed plans in October it would install two solar power plants worth up to EUR 30 million in total to supply public buildings with electricity and distribute the surplus revenue to households with the lowest incomes. Other municipalities are setting up energy communities with the participation of local public institutions with the intention to build photovoltaic systems to meet their energy needs.

Energy communities are elsewhere also called energy cooperatives.

Skrekas also said EUR 40 million from the recovery fund would be used to subsidize the replacement of 2,000 taxis with electric vehicles and that their owners would get EUR 22,500 each.