Region of Western Greece

It is about the largest virtual net energy metering (NEM) project with a photovoltaic park, not only in Greece but also in the whole Europe. The Regional Authority of the Region of Western Greece, inspired by "The European Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy", wanted with its contribution to strengthen the project by creating a cooperation network of the Region's Municipalities and the Local Land Reclamation Organisations (the Energy Communities) and through this to implement the goals of the above agreement.

The main STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE of the Region of Western Greece through the establishment of energy communities is to ensure a healthy and sustainable future,

- freed from past debts for the Local Land Reclamation Organisations.

- without the unaffordable energy costs for the Municipalities, the Municipal Enterprises for Water Supply and Sewerage and the legal persons governed by public law of the Region of Western Greece.

- by reducing the environmental footprint of the electricity consumption of the Entities of the Region of Western Greece.

The specific cooperation network aims to:

 accelerate the decarbonisation.

 provide access to safe, sustainable and affordable energy for their citizens (providing free green energy to vulnerable households, information, education and awareness at local and regional level on energy sustainability issues)

The project addresses to and affects more than 306,000 residents from 11 municipalities, 139,000 professional farmers and their families.

FOR AN UNLIMITED ΤΙΜΕ

The creation of the PDE energy communities was carefully planned so that there would be no major delays, while an effort was made to deal with any obstacles and bureaucratic procedures as efficiently as possible.

2.2.1 STAGE 1: LOCAL LAND RECLAMATION ORGANISATIONS ANALYSIS AND STUDY STAGE

Step 1: Project presentation to the Organizations

Step 2: Reflection of the current situation for the Local and General Land Reclamation Organisations

Step 3: Statistical analysis of Energy Needs

The Energy Communities were formed according to the energy needs of the participating Local Land Reclamation Organisations and based on the limitations set by the maximum possible capacity (18MW) that each production unit can have.

Step 4: Approval Decisions.

All participants approved the Draft Statute as well as the amount of their participation in the initial fund of the Energy Community to which they will belong and authorized their President to sign the final statute.

STAGE 2: STAGE OF ANALYSIS AND STUDY OF MUNICIPALITIES AND THEIR LEGAL ENTITIES

STAGE 3: Finding of candidate sites for the installation of photovoltaic stations.

The Energy Communities under establishment will be of a non-profit nature and will not have the possibility of distributing usage surpluses. The initial capital of the energy communities under establishment amounts to €30,000 for each Energy Community, which consists of three hundred (300) cooperative shares valued at €100 each.

The provisions of Law 4513/2018 combined with Law 1667/1986 on cooperatives apply to the way Energy Communities are organized and operate.

NEXT STEPS

STEP 1. FOUNDING GENERAL ASSEMBLIES

STEP 2. ASSIGNMENT OF CONSTRUCTION SITES TO ENERGY COMMUNITIES

STEP 3. LICENSING OF PROJECTS

STEP 4. PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION / CONSTRUCTION – START OF ENERGY CONVENTION

FUNDING SCENARIOS

The energy communities of the Region of Western Greece, as envisaged by their statutes, are open to cooperation with other bodies at national and international level.

Cooperatives are voluntary associations, open to all persons, who are able to use their services and willingly accept the responsibilities of membership, without any gender, social, racial, political and religious discrimination.

REGION OF WESTERN GREECE

The project addresses to and affects more than 306,000 residents from 11 municipalities, 139,000 professional farmers and their families.

The goal of the 7 energy communities is that the estimated annual reductions in the cost of the consumed electricity (which will result from the installation of the PV plant which will operate with the application of energy compensation or virtual net energy metering (NEM)) can bring an indirect financial benefit to the Local Authorities and their Legal Bodies (through the reduction of billed energy).