A recent law passed by the Greek Parliament closed the net metering system to the vast majority of electricity users. The government wants to replace this with a net billing system, which the photovoltaic sector has been waiting for for more than a year.
The new Greek law 5106/2024, which was approved by parliament at the end of April, concluded the net metering program, including a program to support rooftop solar-plus-battery systems for households, businesses and farmers, as well as a separate net metering program for farmers . The government stopped accepting applications for both programs after May 15.
This means that from May 16, Greek electricity users will only be able to install PV systems (with or without batteries) that operate without injecting electricity into the grid, with the option to participate in a net billing scheme if available.
Net metering systems that are installed or whose owners have submitted all necessary documentation by May 15 will operate under the net metering policy for the duration of their contracts.
The new law allows very few exceptions, including farmers who want to install up to 30 kW of capacity, some government services such as local municipalities, and households living in poverty. These categories can still install systems using the net metering scheme.
Greek law 5106/2024 marks the second and final blow to the country’s net metering system. The first attack occurred in March last year, when the government limited net metering to domestic systems up to 10 kW and commercial systems up to 100 kW. It also discontinued virtual net metering for commercial systems of any capacity.
Instead, the government introduced law 5037/2023, which allows companies to install PV systems that operate under net billing. This net billing scheme would apply with virtually no installation limits, allowing companies to install as much PV capacity as they want.
However, despite law 5037/2023 allowing net billing, the government has never introduced a net billing scheme. Although net billing is enshrined in law, there is no policy that investors must follow.
Following the closure of the net metering system last month, the Greek photovoltaic sector has put pressure on the government to introduce a net billing system. The government has promised action but has not given a concrete timetable.
Currently, the Greek photovoltaic sector is installing the last domestic and commercial net metering systems with applications submitted before May 15. However, there are concerns that installation activity could dry up once completed. There are also fears that the upcoming net billing system may not appeal to consumers as much as net metering. Some argue that the government is deliberately delaying the net billing policy to slow down photovoltaic installations and address the power curtailment problem that emerged this year.
According to the Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Companies (Helapco), Greece was operating 472.9 MW of net metered capacity at the end of last year. Of this, 257.1 MW was installed in 2023, marking the largest peak in net metering installations since the scheme started ten years ago.
Greece’s largest net-metered PV project is a 16 MW system installed at Athens International Airport last year.
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