Greece: Solar Power: Shared Electricity from Households, Businesses, and Municipalities!

Participants will be able to jointly utilize energy from renewable sources, even when generated at different properties, with the aim of reducing energy costs and supporting vulnerable consumers.

Editor: Theodoros Lambros ([email protected])

A new bill submitted by the Ministry of Environment and Energy to the Greek Parliament creates a new opportunity for households, solar panel owners, businesses, and municipalities to collaborate and share electricity. Participants will be able to jointly utilize energy from renewable sources, even when generated at different properties, with the goal of reducing energy costs and supporting vulnerable consumers.

How will consumers share electricity? Article 12 of the bill from the Ministry of Environment and Energy establishes the ability for individuals to generate electricity from photovoltaic systems and share it with other consumers, even if they are located in different properties. The new regulation introduces Article 137G into Law 4001/2011, titled “Right to Energy Sharing,” and incorporates relevant provisions of European Directive 2024/1711. According to the provision, households, small and medium-sized enterprises, and public bodies acquire the right to participate in renewable electricity sharing systems. Collaboration can be conducted through private agreements among interested parties or via a legal entity. A fundamental prerequisite is that the energy sharing activity must not constitute the main commercial or professional activity of the participants.

Three examples for residential, commercial, and municipal applications. The practical significance of the new capability introduced by the legislative framework of the Ministry of Environment and Energy can be understood through three illustrative examples. ♦ Residential owners: A homeowner with a photovoltaic installation agrees with other households to share the generated energy among them. Participants may be located in different properties, provided that the geographical and technical conditions are met. ♦ Small businesses: Professionals who own offices, retail stores, or workshops collaborate to utilize the output from a shared photovoltaic installation, aiming to reduce the amount of energy they purchase from suppliers. ♦ Municipalities: A municipality utilizes a renewable energy installation and organizes the distribution of a portion of the generated energy to eligible recipients, such as vulnerable households. The practical implementation of the new regulation will depend on the specific rules to be established by decisions of the Ministry of Environment and Energy after the bill is passed.

How the electricity bill will be reduced The bill provides that the energy shared and injected into the grid will be deducted from the measured consumption of each participant for the prescribed settlement period. The process will be based on meter data and the calculations of the competent grid operators. At the same time, consumers retain the right to freely choose their electricity supplier. The prescribed taxes, levies, and network charges continue to apply. A fifteen-minute interval is provided for Non-Interconnected Islands.

Who will organize the collaboration? Participants will be able to delegate the management of the energy sharing system to a third party or entity. The organizer will be able to handle communication with suppliers and administrators, the conclusion of contracts, billing, monitoring of production, and the installation or maintenance of energy infrastructure. It is envisaged that the organizer or another third party may own or manage renewable energy generation or storage facilities with a capacity of up to 6 MW. For the operation of the systems, grid administrators must collect and publish data on energy consumption and distribution at least monthly.

Special provisions for apartment buildings The bill provides for a simplified regulatory framework for the shared use of renewable energy among households, provided that the installed capacity does not exceed: - 10.8 kW for individual households. - 50 kW for apartment buildings. A ministerial decision may set different limits, up to 30 kW for individual households and up to 100 kW for apartment buildings, in accordance with the conditions set by the law. These limits pertain to the exemption from specific supplier obligations and do not constitute a general prohibition on the participation of larger installations. Energy for vulnerable households from public entities The provision concerning shared energy projects owned by public entities is of particular interest to municipalities. It stipulates that the generated energy must be made accessible to vulnerable consumers, energy-poor households, or citizens. In line with the bill’s guidelines, public authorities are called upon to make every possible effort to ensure that, on average, at least 10% of the shared energy is allocated for this purpose.

What remains for implementation? After the bill is passed, a ministerial decision is required, following an opinion from the Regulatory Authority for Energy and Water (RAEW), which will define the participation procedures, distribution terms, the role of organizers, and specific technical issues. This regulation creates a new framework for cooperation in utilizing photovoltaic and other renewable energy sources, with the prospect of reducing energy costs for households, businesses, and public entities.

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