Filenews 25 July 2022 - by Adamos Adamou
The photovoltaic systems have recently become blown away, as a result of rising inflation and the estimates that unfortunately are verified for the continuation of accuracy and especially that in electricity.
The continuous applications submitted before the EAC for offsetting measurements after installation of photovoltaics, as well as the applications to the Ministry of Energy for participation in the project "Encouragement of the use of Renewable Energy Sources", which provides for sponsorship for the installation of photovoltaics, confirm the truth of the matter.
The interest in the examination of applications forced EAC to work overtime, weekends, but also to second staff to the service that examines applications and of course inspects the installation of photovoltaics for connection to the grid.
As the acting spokesperson of EAC Dimitris Nathanael told "F", the interest is particularly increased, as reflected in a relevant post of the Authority in the NGOs in which he announced the efforts made to address the increased volume of applications for RES systems. Indicatively, based on data from EAC in 2019, applications amounted to around 200 per month, in 2020 and 2021 these increased to 400 per month, while in the current year and last period they amount to 1,000 per month. And all this while pending the implementation of the decision of the Council of Ministers, which was taken precisely to address the inflationary pressures at the end of May to increase from 90% to 100% the ability to cover the annual electricity consumption of the premises for own consumption from the electricity produced by a photovoltaic system for residential consumers and businesses. On the issue, Mr. Nathaniel said when asked about this, that the decision on the part of the Ministry of Energy is expected to determine how it will be implemented and whether it will also cover those who have already installed photovoltaic systems or are doing so now.
As mentioned, the increased interest in photovoltaics, especially from households that see the electricity bill inflating month by month, demonstrates the interest that exists in the sponsorship plan of the Ministry of Energy to encourage the use of Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Saving in homes. The project subsidizes the thermal insulation of roofs, the installation of photovoltaics or a combination of the two, i.e. thermal insulation of roofs along with the installation of photovoltaics.
The plan was officially announced only on June 1, and according to information obtained by "F" up to last week, 2,558 applications were submitted. Close to 800 of them concerned vulnerable groups that are entitled to increased sponsorship, as were the inhabitants of mountainous areas. Specifically, based on the plan for the installation of a photovoltaic system using the method of net metering or virtual net metering in existing homes, the amount of the grant amounts to €375 per installed kW of a photovoltaic system, with a maximum grant amount of €1,500. For residents of mountain communities, the amounts are increased by 50%, while the amount is increased to €1,000 per installed kW of photovoltaic for the homes of vulnerable consumers, with a maximum grant amount of €5,000.
The amount of the current plan that helps - as well as the increased electricity price - to a faster depreciation of the photovoltaic installation that for a house starts from 5 thousand. it has a budget of around €30 million. It will remain in force until 20/12/2023 or until the budget is exhausted, whichever of the two happens first.
