RAE approves 10-year development plan for electricity 2021-2030
(Article by Mira Todorovic Symeonides, Partner, published in the Energy & Natural Resources Newsletter of the ILO on June 6, 2022)
On 3 February 2022, the Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE) Decision No. 611/2021 on the approval of the Hellenic Electricity Transmission System’s (the System’s) development plan for the period 2021-2030 was published in the Official Journal.
The development plant identifies the main transmission infrastructure to be built or upgraded over the next 10 years and contains all the investments already included in previous plans. Pursuant to article 14 of Law No. 4001/2011, the plan is subject to the evaluation and approval of the RAE, following a public consultation.
The aforementioned RAE decision aims to impose effective measures to ensure the adequacy of the System and security of supply. In more detail, the approved development plan regulates:
- the completion of phase D of the Cyclades interconnection to the System in the second half of 2023;
- the completion of phase B of the Crete-Attica interconnection in the first half of 2023;
- the reconstruction of the Koumoundourou High Voltage Centre during 2023.
Moreover, pursuant to the RAE’s decision, projects for the reinforcement of the Crete system will be assessed within the context of the development plan. As regards the Peloponnese system, the RAE requires from the system operator intensive actions for the completion of the extension of the 400-kilovolt system, part of the Peloponnese project. On the matter of Northern Sporades and Eastern Magnesia supply reinforcement, the RAE decided on the completion of the project in the first quarter of 2022. In addition, the interconnection of the Dodecanese and of the North Aegean Islands should be complete within the second half of 2029, although the decision does not approve any new projects for the installation of the fibre-optic network. The new project to strengthen the 400-kilovolt system in Evia, which concerns the variation of a double underground cable section, was also rejected.
As regards international projects, interconnections with Italy, Turkey and Albania and an upgrade to the existing interconnection with North Macedonia will be subject to examination for inclusion in the development plan, upon the conduct of a cost-benefit analysis. The obligation for submission of a cost-benefit analysis also applies to projects included in the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity 10-year development plan proposed by “thirds”-project promoters. The Cyclades, Crete, Dodecanese and North Aegean Islands projects should also be subject to cost-benefit study so as to be approved as of major importance.
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