Greece energy storage strategy: Tsafos defends hydro mix and rejects Ptolemaida aid

Greek Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy Nikos Tsafos has addressed the country’s energy storage strategy, comparing Greece’s approach to that of Bulgaria. Tsafos noted that while Bulgaria has focused heavily on battery storage, Greece has pursued a more balanced mix that includes investments in pumped-storage hydro projects. He explained that although pumped storage is more complex and slower to implement, it offers greater long-term duration and domestic added value.

Regarding specific regional developments, Tsafos clarified why a request for €249 million in state aid for the Ptolemaida Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project by Eunice Energy Group was rejected. The request, covering a decade of support for a €271 million investment, was deemed disproportionate compared to other storage projects funded through competitive tenders. Tsafos highlighted that the requested support was 33% higher than amounts granted to projects in previous tenders, particularly those in lignite-transitioning regions. He added that the government intends to launch further competitive tenders worth an additional €200 million to accelerate battery deployment.