Solar subsidies are coming

Minister of Environment and Energy Kostas Skrekas spoke about a new program to subsidize the installation of solar panels on rooftops.

The program, he said, will target businesses and consumers who want to install panels. 160 million euros have already been allocated from the Recovery Fund. Measures to implement the program will be announced in the next six months.

With regard to the subsidy for electricity bills and new measures to be announced this week, it is emphasized that they will be expanded. “The energy crisis is fueled by a geopolitical crisis,” Mr. Skrekas said in an interview with SKAI.

The Minister of Energy and Ecology also explained what needs to be done to reduce prices. As long as increased flows of natural gas are recorded, prices continue to rise.

“The reality is that what is happening in the energy stock markets is unprecedented. We have the most expensive oil, gas and electricity prices ever seen. We have recorded record prices,” he said. In this context, he focused on the 6-point proposal sent by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Commission Chairperson Ursula von der Leyen.

“The Prime Minister said that we cannot subsidize the increase in gas, since we have an increase in gas flows. But instead of falling stock prices, the value is rising. It is necessary to establish a “ceiling” in Europe, in the international stock markets. Europe as a whole, all countries, must make group purchases of gas and “sign bilateral contracts” with its producers in the world in order to keep international prices low and, therefore, lead to a significant reduction in electricity bills,” said Mr Skrekas.

This cannot be decided by each country individually. “That is why we are calling for the early establishment of a Central European support mechanism in the face of the energy crisis. The Prime Minister of Greece put forward concrete proposals to support households and businesses. Europe is losing competitiveness and the consequences for the economy are very unfavorable. But, unfortunately, Europe is lagging behind, and Greece alone cannot make the rules. That is why we subsidize electricity bills,” he stressed.

In fact, the proposals voiced by the commission, Greece has been implementing since September last year. He noted that today 7 out of 10 households in Greece consuming up to 300 kilowatt-hours per month have a very significant subsidy that covers the largest percentage and can reach 80% of the increase. “For example, there is a subsidy of 270 euros for quarterly bills of 400-500 euros. That is, they would pay 750-800 euros, and with a subsidy they pay 550 euros,” the minister stressed.

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