Recently, several Greek solar producers and industry associations have formally petitioned the European Commission, raising concerns that Greece’s current regulatory framework for solar repowering and energy storage is creating barriers to investment and slowing the country’s energy transition.
This development has drawn attention across the European renewable energy sector, as it highlights broader challenges faced by mature solar markets transitioning from rapid capacity growth to system optimization and grid flexibility.
According to industry representatives, the petition focuses on two main regulatory challenges:
1. Repowering Treated as New Project Development
In Greece, upgrading or modernizing existing solar assets—such as replacing modules, inverters, or mounting structures—is often treated as a new project from a regulatory perspective. This requires:
a. Reapplication for grid connection b. Participation in new support or auction schemes c. Submission of additional financial guarantees
Industry stakeholders argue that this approach significantly increases administrative complexity and financial risk, reducing incentives to upgrade older installations with modern, higher-efficiency technologies.
2. High Financial Guarantees for Energy Storage Projects
The petition also highlights the high guarantee requirements imposed on grid-connected energy storage projects. These requirements are considered significantly higher than those in many other EU member states, potentially limiting participation to only large investors and slowing down storage deployment.
As solar penetration increases, insufficient storage capacity may lead to higher curtailment rates and reduced grid stability—an issue already visible in several Southern European markets.
Greece has experienced strong solar growth over recent years, driven by favorable irradiation, supportive EU targets, and private investment. However, as installed capacity increases, grid congestion and curtailment risks are becoming more prominent.
Repowering existing projects and integrating energy storage are widely seen as cost-effective solutions to:
a. Increase output without expanding land use b. Improve grid compatibility c. Extend the operational life of existing assets
If the European Commission determines that national regulations are inconsistent with EU directives, this case could influence future policy adjustments—not only in Greece, but potentially in other EU markets facing similar challenges.
For developers, EPCs, and system suppliers operating across Europe, regulatory consistency and predictability remain critical to long-term investment planning.
From our perspective, repowering and storage integration should be viewed as system-level upgrades rather than isolated component changes.
Repowering is a key driver of sustainable solar growth
Well-designed mounting systems can support higher-power modules and future system upgrades without increasing structural loads or complexity.
Energy storage integration requires flexible and compatible system design
As storage becomes a standard component of solar projects, mounting and structural solutions must support evolving layouts and technical requirements.
Policy clarity supports long-term system reliability
Clear and predictable regulations enable project owners to invest in durable, future-ready system designs rather than short-term solutions.
We will continue to monitor regulatory developments in Greece and across Europe, working closely with our partners to provide reliable, adaptable mounting solutions that support both current projects and long-term energy transition goals.
