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Greece announces new PV rates

The Greek government has announced changes to its photovoltaic subsidies. It has also highlighted the important role the technology plays in Greece.

Photovoltaics is an important renewable energy in Greece.

Conergy AG

In a statement released, the Greek Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, YPEKA, says that total installed renewable energy in the country currently stands at 2.4 gigawatts (GW). The significance of photovoltaics, which is said to be the leading technology behind wind, was specifically highlighted.

According to the ministry's figures, 460 megawatts (MW) worth of photovoltaics had been installed in Greece by last September. This is expected to have increased to 580 MW by the end of 2011. Based on this, the government is confident that the country will achieve its national target of 1.5 GW of energy generated from solar panels by 2014.

It goes on to say, "In today’s difficult environment, the sustainability of the funding mechanism of RES is necessary to ensure the continued operation of installed units, and developing new ones."

The YPEKA says it consulted "widely" with industry stakeholders to determine the new rates for photovoltaics, in addition to considering both decreasing installation costs and returns on investment. The changes are as follows:

Plants under 100 kilowatts (kW) in size, and off-grid systems:

• February 2012, a tariff of €328.60 will be paid instead of €375.54 per MWh
• August 2012, a tariff of €305.60 will be paid instead of €353.55 per MWh
• February 2013, a tariff of €284.20 will be paid instead of €336.23 per MWh
• August 2013, a tariff of €264.31 will be paid instead of €316.55 per MWh
• February 2014, a tariff of €245.81 will be paid instead of €302.56 per MWh
• August 2014, a tariff of €228.60 will be paid instead of €293.59 per MWh

Plants over 100 kW:

• February 2012 a tariff of €292.08 will be paid instead of €333.81 per MWh
• August 2012, a tariff of €271.64 will be paid instead of €314.27 per MWh
• February 2013, a tariff of €252.62 will be paid instead of €298.87 per MWh
• August 2013, a tariff of €234.94 will be paid instead of €281.38 per MWh
• February 2014, a tariff of €218.49 will be paid instead of €268.94 per MWh
• August 2014, a tariff of €203.20 will be paid instead of €260.97 per MWh

Rooftop systems:

• February 2012 a tariff of €495 will be paid instead of €522.5 per MWh
• August 2012, a tariff of €470.25 will be paid instead of €522.5 per MWh
• February 2013, a tariff of €446.73 will be paid instead of €496.38 per MWh
• August 2013, a tariff of €424.40 will be paid instead of €496.38 per MWh
• February 2014, a tariff of €403.18 will be paid instead of €471.56 per MWh
• August 2014, a tariff of €383.02 will be paid instead of €471.56 per MWh
• February 2015, a tariff of €363.87 will be paid instead of €447.98 per MWh
• August 2014, a tariff of €345.68 will be paid instead of €447.98 per MWh