Disagreement Between Ministry and Industry on Energy Costs

In recent months, the Ministry of Environment and Energy (YPEEN) has rejected two proposals from the industry regarding ways to reduce energy costs. Initially, the ministry declined to provide retroactive subsidies for industries, a measure that was granted to households and small-to-medium enterprises. The industry requested this support but was informed that no state funds would be allocated for this purpose. Subsequently, industrial representatives proposed adopting the so-called Italian model, where bilateral energy supply agreements (PPAs) between industries and renewable energy producers are facilitated through a state agency to secure stable terms and prices. However, the ministry remains skeptical about implementing the Italian plan in Greece, at least in its current phase. Nevertheless, priority is now given to grid connection projects aimed at direct PPAs with industries to encourage future development. Additionally, the ministry focuses on two other areas for assistance: energy storage, where industries can invest as this large investment cycle opens up, and interruptibility, offering payments to energy-intensive industries to temporarily halt operations during peak hours. Currently, ADMIE is designing an updated framework for interruptibility, aiming for swift implementation.