Supporting Energy Communities for the Development of Self-Production Actions (Energy Communities): New start and end date for submitting proposals to the Action
New start and end date for submission of proposals in the Action “Supporting Energy Communities for the development of self-production actions (Energy Communities)”, announced by the Special Service for Just Development Transition (EYDAM).
No. n/a 1626 Challenge entitled: “Supporting Energy Communities for the development of self-production actions (Energy Communities)” amended as regards the start and end date of submission of proposals. The new dates are:
• Submissions start date : 11-27-2023
• Submissions end date : 04-29-2024
In the next period, a modified Invitation will be posted which will concern the sections:
2. Invitation Content
3. Eligibility
4. Instructions for submitting proposals
8. Special terms
The Action “Supporting Energy Communities for the development of self-production actions (Energy Communities)”
The Action is part of Priority 2 of the 2021-2027 PES and concerns the support of energy communities for the implementation of energy and/or virtual energy offset projects and the promotion of the penetration of clean forms of energy with use of RES, for self-production.
Priority 2 “Energy transition – climate neutrality” pursues the transition to a climate neutral economy, through energy efficiency investments, production and storage of clean energy, and its use/utilization by local communities. It focuses on improving energy efficiency, affordable clean energy systems and infrastructure, including energy storage technologies. Due to rapidly rising electricity prices, a growing number of citizens, businesses and local authorities are turning to collective self-consumption as a solution. Energy autonomy thus emerges as a solution, promoting environmental sustainability, social inclusion and economic resilience. Any package of measures to combat the energy crisis should recognize and support the essential contribution of the Energy Communities.
Also, the monoculture of lignite in the Transition areas, makes their economy particularly dependent and vulnerable. The impact of lignitization is not only limited to employment and incomes, but also concerns electricity and heating as they are for these areas not only a means of livelihood, but also a social good. It is imperative therefore necessity to strengthen and diversify the local production system through exploiting their inherent advantages and highlighting new ones, such as the self-production of energy from RES through the scheme of Energy Communities.
Through the new law, n. 5037/2023, the definitions for the Renewable Energy Communities and the Citizen Energy Communities are introduced, and all issues for their establishment and operation are regulated. Transitional provisions are also introduced for the Energy Communities of Law 4513/2018 and specifically it is provided that Communities established in accordance with Law 4513/2018 (A’ 9) can be converted into Citizen Energy Communities (E.K.P.) or Renewable Energy Communities (C.A.E.), provided certain conditions are met and decided by their General Assembly with the necessary amendment of the statute.
The action concerns expenses for the installation of RES stations for self-production with energy and/or virtual energy offset by Citizens Energy Community or Renewable Energy Community or Energy Community of Law 4513/2018 to cover energy needs of the following uses:
- public benefit enterprises and municipal water supply and sewerage enterprises (D.E.Y.A.) of article 107 of Law 3852/2010 (A΄ 87)
- municipal daycare centers
- school units of primary and secondary education
- health centers and hospitals
- municipal and public sports centers
- installations and street lighting networks
- water supply and drainage facilities
- any other building, infrastructure or facility that either belongs to or serves the needs of OTA, as well as
- consumers who live below the poverty line, as well as households affected by energy poverty according to the decision of the Minister of the Environment and of Energy (B’ 4447)
Eligible expenses
Eligible are the expenses related to the investment cost of supply, installation, commissioning of RES stations. Specifically:
a) Supply and installation of PV panels, inverter, as well as accessory materials (panels, cables, etc.)
b) Supply and installation of support base system
c) Supply and installation of PV meter
d) Supply and installation of a storage system as well as accessory materials (panels, cables, etc.)
e) Fee for study – dimensioning of the system (Photovoltaics and battery) and its installation work
f) Supply and installation of the necessary equipment and accessory materials for other RES technologies, as well as a fee for their design and dimensioning
The maximum grant rate is 80% of the eligible costs. The minimum acceptable capacity of RES stations for self-generation is defined as 0.3MW per submitted proposal.
The budget of the Action is distributed as follows:
Region of Western Macedonia: 16,380,000 euros
Peloponnese Region: Municipalities of Megalopolis, Oichalia, Gortynia, Tripoli: €10,465,000 North Aegean Region: €6,240,000
South Aegean Region: 2,340,000 euros
Region of Crete: 6,370,000 euros
See the call for Action in detail here.