Greece to launch competitive solar, wind tenders on July 2

Greece has scheduled auctions for solar and wind capacity for July 2 as it readies to switch from the feed-in tariff model to the competitive tender process.

A total of 300 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) and 300 MW of wind capacity will be offered, according to a document on the Regulatory Authority for Energy’s (RAE) website.

According to reports, Greece will auction 300 MW of solar and 300 MW of wind capacity annually, plus hold two auctions, each for a combined 400 MW, in the 2018-2020 period.

This makes up for a total of 2.6 GW of solar and wind capacity. The auctions should “encourage investments in renewable energy of EUR 2.5 billion to EUR 3 billion, especially in wind,” Energy Minister George Stathakis has told Bloomberg.

In July, bidders for solar PV will be able to compete in two categories – for a total of 70 MW allocated for installations of up to 1 MW and a total of 230 MW for solar parks with a capacity of over 1 MW, but no more than 70 MW, according to the document on the RAE’s website.

An individual wind farm project can have a capacity of more than 3 MW, but no more than 50 MW.

The RAE document also shows that bids are to be capped at EUR 85 per MWh for smaller PV installations, EUR 80 MWh per MWh for larger solar plants, and EUR 90 per MWh for wind farms.

An auction for a combined 400 MW of PV and wind is also planned in 2018, the RAE document reads.

Earlier, the RAE proposed tighter rules for participation in the auctions, such as a minimum registration fee and a guarantee requirement.