Greece is set to revamp the spatial planning of renewable energy projects, with updated rules for siting installations expected to take shape over the next year. The Ministry of Environment and Energy is finalizing the criteria that will form the backbone of a revised Special Spatial Planning framework for renewable energy sources.
Officials plan to release the draft framework for public consultation in February, aiming for a Joint Ministerial Decision to be adopted by June 2026. In preparation, the Ministry has been reviewing a consultant-prepared proposal for several months, focusing particularly on the criteria that will determine where and how new projects can be developed.
A key point under discussion is the role of wind potential in land use decisions. The Ministry intends to make wind resource quality a guiding factor for zoning, steering new wind farms toward the most suitable areas while keeping existing exclusion zones unchanged. Protections for environmentally sensitive regions will remain in force.
The Ministry is also revisiting an altitude-based assessment method, a horizontal criterion that evaluates the suitability of wind installations by combining elevation, wind potential, and other technical factors. Although this approach was considered in previous attempts to modernize the spatial plan, it was never fully implemented. The current revision seeks to formally integrate it, aligning wind development with national climate and energy objectives.
To avoid disrupting projects already underway, the new framework is expected to include safeguards for existing licenses. Wind projects that have obtained environmental approvals and final grid connection offers will not be affected by the revised criteria.
Overall, the overhaul aims to establish clearer and more uniform rules, reducing legal disputes, easing tensions with local communities, and minimizing administrative bottlenecks. The Government hopes this will create a more predictable environment for investors while ensuring the renewable energy rollout stays on track.