By Abdullahi Lukman
Greece’s Ministry of Environment and Energy has opened a public consultation on a new Special Spatial Framework for Renewable Energy Sources aimed at tightening regulations for large-scale renewable energy projects across the country.
The proposed framework seeks to balance the Flood submerges collapsed Kwara bridge, strands commuters country’s green energy transition with environmental protection and the interests of local communities by introducing stricter guidelines for the siting of renewable energy facilities.
The policy covers major renewable energy and storage technologies, including solar and wind projects.
However, projects already operational or at advanced licensing stages, as well as rooftop solar systems and large pumped-storage hydro plants, will not be affected by the new restrictions.
Under the proposed rules, new solar parks will be prohibited in environmentally sensitive and protected areas such as Natura 2000 sites, forests, wetlands, national parks, beaches, UNESCO heritage locations, archaeological zones, and landscapes considered to have outstanding natural beauty.
The framework also places limits on the concentration of solar projects by restricting installations to no more than 1.5 per cent of the total land area within each regional unit.
Developers will also be required to maintain minimum distances from residential communities and conduct visibility studies for projects located near cultural heritage sites.
For wind energy projects, the government proposed a ban on wind turbines in areas above 1,200 metres altitude to protect mountain ecosystems.
Wind farms will also not be allowed in Greater Athens, the Thessaloniki metropolitan area, and on islands smaller than 300 square kilometres, except where projects serve public interest purposes such as desalination.
The draft framework further states that wind projects within Special Protection Areas for birds under the Natura 2000 network will only be permitted if supported by approved environmental studies and where wind potential exceeds specified thresholds.
In addition, wind farm coverage on eligible islands will be capped at four per cent of land area within each municipal unit.
The consultation forms part of Greece’s efforts to strengthen renewable energy development while limiting environmental impact and preserving sensitive ecological and cultural areas.
