The Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy presented a bill of law setting detailed rules for the development of projects for data centers in the country.
Greek authorities have witnessed a steep rise in interest in data centers. Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO or ADMIE) saw applications rise from 5 GW to 9 GW in just two months in the summer.
The proposal for the new law is attempting to clarify the regulatory framework concerning the connections to the power network, as well as establish specific requirements.
IPTO to handle requests above 10 MW
When it comes to oversight, IPTO will have to include data centers in its ten-year development plan, separately from other large consumers.
The operator is called to categorize availability at extra-high-voltage substations. They can be free, partially congested or fully congested. These estimations will be updated every two months to provide timely information to the market.
As for the licensing process, IPTO will be responsible for data centers above 10 MW, with Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO or DEDDIE) handling requests below that capacity. Projects won’t be allowed to be segmented into smaller parts for benefiting simpler regulations.
Power must be 60% renewable
Investors would be required to submit letters of guarantee for EUR 200,000 per MW, with a three-year duration. When ready, the operator would provide them with a three-year connection offer, at which point developers need to submit a report with the project’s technical features and a power supply agreement.
Consumed electricity must be at least 60% renewable in origin. Data centers can connect directly to neighboring renewable electricity and energy storage facilities, or sign power purchase agreements (PPAs).
Data centers above 200 MW would benefit from priority in their connection, although with certain caveats. The owner must establish that 80% of the electricity will come either from a distributed power producer, or from energy storage with a six-hour injection duration.