Greece targets December deadline for Thracian Sea offshore wind projects

Efforts are underway to resolve the legal and regulatory deadlock surrounding Greece’s first pilot offshore wind farms in the Thracian Sea, located between Evros and Samothraki. The projects, which have a combined capacity of approximately 600 MW, faced a setback after the Athens Administrative Court of Appeals canceled exploration licenses following a legal challenge by the Municipality of Samothraki.

To restart the process, the Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy is drafting legislative regulations intended for inclusion in an upcoming bill. The goal is to have these regulations passed and published in the Government Gazette by December to allow for the reissuance of exploration licenses.

The two primary investment schemes involve:

1. A 216 MW project held by DEH. 2. A 400 MW project developed by TERNA Energy and Motor Oil through the ‘Aeolian Provata Traianoupolis’ venture.

Investors are considering various legal options, including appealing to the Council of State, while the government seeks to clarify the regulatory framework to provide certainty for the renewable energy sector.