Event reports
Within the framework of TIF 2022 the Konrad Adenuaer Foundation of Greece and Cyprus co-organized a Panel Discussion with the Chamber of Commerce of Central Macedonia with keynote speakers Mr. Adonis Georgiadis, Minister of Development and Investments, Mr. Vassilis Georgiadis, President of the Chamber of Commerce of Central Macedonia, and Dr. Agis Digkas, Vice President of the Renewables Administrator of Energy Sources and Guarantees of Origin (DAPEEP S.A.).
Minister Adonis Georgiadis referred to the biggest energy crisis of all time, which has already put the European economies under great pressure. He referred to the electricity subsidy given by the Greek Government - which is the largest in the entire European Union - and to the energy saving process that will need to be done by everyone, in order to mitigate the effects of the crisis. He discussed the actions and the use of new technologies, the "Excoinomo" program for example or "ELEKTRA" for the public sector, which allow the great energy efficiency of buildings and infrastructures to work with less electricity providing the same services. While he mentioned for the first time the special NSRF program for small and medium enterprises, up to 10 kilowatts, to install solar panels and produce electricity, not for net metering, but for self-consumption. As the Minister mentioned, "We have chosen to reach a consumption subsidy that covers all small and medium-sized businesses, but does not reach the point where you need a connection to the grid so that you do not have the obstacle of DEDDIE and install solar panels that will allow you to almost zero your electricity consumption. And so, in this way, let's turn high-priced energy from a competitive disadvantage into a competitive advantage." The Minister's full speech can be found at the following link.
Mr. Vassilis Georgiadis referred to the energy crisis as a common European problem that requires a common European solution, in the context of the Recovery Fund. Greece supports Small and Medium Enterprises based on the country's fiscal capacity, achieving containment of goods prices, protecting the final consumer, and our vulnerable fellow citizens. However, more forms of energy need to be included in the country's energy mix (such as RES, LNG stations, etc.) and the country's energy autonomy should be increased. Saving energy through business incentives, such as the "Save for Business" action, if combined with parallel reforms that will improve the business climate, and the acceleration of the state's digital transformation, will make the Greek economy more competitive, attracting large investments.
In his speech, Mr. Agis Digas mentioned that Greece is expected to double its installed capacity in Renewable Sources by 2030, while last year it was upgraded by 3 places in the attractiveness index of RES projects. The close cooperation between the Ministry of Environment & Energy and the Ministry of Development & Investments has borne fruit, especially in matters of speeding up licensing procedures, in the creation of offshore wind farms, but also in the protection of the environment with the "Unclaimed Mountains" legislative initiative. The Region of Macedonia, with the particularly important energy infrastructures that
