The Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA), with its president Yiannis Bratakos, proposes a clear spatial planning framework for the renewable energy sources, without retroactive application, less bureaucracy, investment security, and a balance between development andenvironment.
The president of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Yannis Bratakos, sent a letter to the leadership of the Ministry of Environment and Energy a detailed memorandum regarding the draft Joint Ministerial Decision on the new Special Spatial Framework for Renewable Energy Sources (SPF-RES), presenting ten key proposals for its improvement.
EBEA/Bratakos Memorandum: a clear framework, without administrative gridlock
In the memorandum, the EBEA points out that the country needs a modern, clear, and functional spatial planning framework, which will prevent the overconcentration of projects, protects the environment, and serves as a tool for an organized green transition. At the same time, he emphasizes that new bureaucratic obstacles, retroactivity, and administrative paralysis of the market must be avoided in order to ensure the continuity of investments.
Mr. Bratakos emphasized that the energy transition is the only path forward for the competitiveness of the Greek economy, sustainable development, and the reduction of energy costs for businesses and households. As he noted, the success of the new framework will depend on whether it provides a clear, predictable, and workable regulatory environment that combines environmental protection, social acceptance, investment security, and the production of usable clean energy.
The 10 proposals outlining the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (ACCI) key recommendations
The ACCI views the initiative for the new spatial planning framework positively, recognizing the need for clear zoning rules and stricter criteria for environmentally sensitive areas, provided that these are based on scientific data.
At the same time, there is a call for legal certainty, with an explicit transitional provision ensuring that the new framework does not retroactively affect legally operating or fully licensed projects when their environmental conditions are renewed or updated.
Particular emphasis is placed on reconsidering the horizontal cap of 1.5% for photovoltaic coverage per Regional Unit, with a proposal to calculate it based on actual data, excluding immature projects that tie up electrical capacity and providing for greater flexibility for barren or degraded land.
The Chamber also proposes expedited permitting for energy storage systems, through simplified procedures for installing batteries at existing renewable energy projects or at manufacturing and industrial facilities, without having to restart the entire permitting process.
The proposals also include the creation of a public geospatial registry, an open digital platform that will dynamically map each region’s carrying capacity, operational projects, cumulative impacts, and the maturity stage of new investments.
Small-scale projects, with a focus on islands and Western Macedonia
The Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) calls for a distinct and proportionate approach to small-scale projectsup to 60 kW, with a simplified framework for small wind turbines and self-generation facilities, while proposing specific provisions for island and mountainous areas, so that restrictions are applied proportionately and public-interest exemptions are determined based on transparent criteria.
Special mention is made of Western Macedonia, where the Chamber warns that the transition away from lignite mining must not lead to a “photovoltaic monoculture.” For this reason, it is proposed to prioritize land uses, protect highly productive agricultural land, and more closely link investments to local employment and consumption.
Dismantling and Reciprocity in Local Communities
In its latest proposals, the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBEA) recommends establishing financial guarantee mechanisms for the decommissioning of projects after the end of their operational life, through letters of guarantee or environmental liability insurance policies.
At the same time, it proposes strengthening social reciprocity by linking investments in renewable energy to measurable benefits for local communities, such as participation in Energy Communities, reducing energy costs for businesses and vulnerable households, and boosting local employment.
The memorandum concludes that the Greek economy needs more clean energy, more resilient grids and a stable framework that protects the environment without undermining entrepreneurship, striking a balance between the green transition and growth prospects.
