Greece launches Offshore Wind Farms development plan for the next decade

An ambitious offshore wind development plan has been launched, aiming to exploit the untapped wind potential of Greek seas. 

This plan will bolster Greece’s energy security and help it become a major power exporter to the region in the near future. 

The draft National Development Programme for Offshore Wind Farms (NDPOWF) proposes 12 regions as potential Organized Development Areas (ODA).

Six of them will initially host projects aiming to finish until 2030. 

The main focus of the new market, according to the program, is on Crete, where a total of 800 MW of offshore wind power, 600 MW in the northeastern part of the island between Ag. Nikolaou and Sitia and the 200 MW east of Sitia will be installed. 

Next is the South Aegean, in the sea area between Kos and Rhodes, which can accommodate 550 MW.  

Immediately after, the NE Aegean will host an installation of 300 MW, in the maritime zone of Lesvos-Skyros-Kymi,  

The offshore wind capacity of the Cyclades, is only to be exploited in the area between Syros and Naxos and can host up to 250 MW. 

Excluded from at least the first phase of development, are the areas of the Eastern Aegean on the Lesvos-Chios-Samos axis, the Dodecanese on the Ikaria-Patmos-Leros axis and the sea area between Limnos – Ai Stratis 

The marine area between Evros-Samothraki, which is defined as an area for the development of pilot OWF projects, according to Law 4964/2022, is also not included in the mid-term development phase (2030-2032). 

The Ministry of Environment and Energy is considering fast-paced procedures and promoting the creation of a special purpose vehicle (SPV) that will undertake to proceed with the research on behalf of HEREMA (Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company), which will initially be financed with national resources. 

In anticipation of the tenders, leading energy companies in the sector have already started to ally with domestic groups, while companies from the other side of the Atlantic seem to be interested as well. 

Agreements have been signed between the German RWE and HELLENiQ ENERGY, TERNA Energy and Ocean Winds (a joint venture of the Portuguese EDPR and the French Engie) as well as  Mytilineos with Danish Copenhagen Offshore Partners. Other companies are also heading on the same path of mutual agreements. 

The Joint Ministerial Decision of the Greek government is the only key remaining to unlock the potential projects that will be hosted in the selected areas.