In his introductory statementthe Minister of Environment and Energy Mr. Kostis Hatzidakisnoted that the ESEK is a comprehensive green development plan for Greece and a catalyst for agreen investment boom that will create multiplier benefits in all sectors of the economy beyond energy, transport, financial sector, construction, tourism, shipping, agriculture”. He also underlined that an important part of the government’s policy is addressing climate change, referring to the adaptation of buildings and infrastructure to possible future climate conditions, as well as actions to preserve biodiversity and protect forests and of water resources.
The Governor of the Bank of Greece, Mr. Yannis Stournaras, pointed out that the Bank of Greece is one of the first, if not the first central bank that dealt and deals systematically with the issue of climate change. In 2009, he established the Committee for the Study of the Effects of Climate Change (EMECA) which aims to highlight through its research the risks but also the opportunities arising from climate change, as studies have shown that climate change significantly affects the economy but also financial stability. He also said that the Bank of Greece will assist in the effort to implement the ESEK which, among other things, sets the course for the de-lignification of the electricity generation sector and prescribes the radical transformation of the country’s energy sector.
Then, the Deputy Minister of Energy (and chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for ESEK) Mr. Gerasimos Thomas briefly presented the main aspects of the Plan. As he characteristically said, «we tried to make energy policy go hand in hand with environmental protection and the fight against climate change. This is the biggest challenge both at national and European level”. He made special mention of the large investments required, which will require not only the decisive assistance of the private sector, but also the greatest possible leverage of national and community resources, which will be directed to the implementation of ESEK actions. . Finally, he underlined that the new ESEK is not only more ambitious from a “quantitative” point of view (through the adoption of more ambitious quantitative targets), but also qualitatively, since it integrates all the policies that are a priority at the EU level, such as sector coupling , the role of consumers in energy production (the prosumer model) and the digitization of networks.
The Deputy Minister of Environment, Spatial Planning and Urban Environment Mr. Dimitris Oikonomou, in his own intervention, focused on the parameter of adaptation, making special reference to Regional Climate Change Adaptation Plans and the evaluation process of the first proposals and actions promoted by the Regions. He also mentioned that in the Local Spatial Plans that will begin to be announced by the Ministry of Interior from January, there will be a separate component of Local Plans for Adaptation to Climate Change.
The<< Secretary General of Public Investments and NSRF of the Ministry of Development and Investments, Mr. Dimitris Skalkos, observed that in the current programming period (2014-2020) actions amounting to 2 billion are being implemented. euros approximately in the field of energy saving and energy infrastructure, adding that during the new programming period 2021-2027 multiple financing opportunities are created, given the increased emphasis that the EU places on "green" investments. As he noted, an amount of around 7 billion euro should be committed to "green" actions. "It is a priority that the main directions of the ESEK be integrated into the new NSRF, the framework of which must be submitted to the European Commission by February 2020″.
The General Secretary of Energy and Mineral Raw Materials, Mrs. Alexandra Sdoukou, made a special reference to two of the main pillars of ESEK, the increased penetration of Renewable Energy Sources and the spread of electric vehicles. “These are two very big challenges. The responsibility of those who have set the goals is also very great, therefore it is necessary to work quickly, seriously and responsibly in order to achieve the goals”. As Ms. Sdoukou said, given that we are talking about more than doubling the installed power of RES technologies, we must give particular weight to the existing labyrinthine licensing framework and the polynomial that governs it. Among the Ministry’s priorities is the development of the institutional framework for storage units (such as pumped storage stations) and the pricing framework for hybrid stations on the islands, the promotion of RES installations in buildings through netmetering and the creation of institutional framework for other forms of RES, such as offshore wind farms. “For electrification, we know that we have set ambitious goals, significantly higher than market estimates, but we do not want to settle for business as usual. We are starting from a low level in the fleet, the network, the infrastructure and the legislative framework, but we intend to move drastically and immediately”, concluded Mrs. Sdoukou.
round of speeches closed, NTUA professor Mr. Pantelis Kapros presented the scenarios for the Long-Term National Energy and Climate Planning, with the ultimate goal of transitioning to a climate-neutral economy until 2050. He emphasized that at this stage there is no talk of specific measures, but of scenarios that will be the subject of further discussion and elaboration in the future. Mr Kapros said the climate neutrality goal translates into a 95% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990 levels and requires a hugely capital-intensive transformation of the energy sector. He noted that the “baseline scenario” that foresees an extension of ESEK policies until 2050 is not enough to achieve this goal. Additional interventions, measures and technologies will be required that will change the operating paradigm of the consumption and production system. Focusing on energy efficiency that should be maximized, the use of RES should be expanded, with an emphasis on storage technologies but also on alternative sources, such as new generation biofuels.
“>The event ended with the interventions of the agencies. On behalf of POMIDA, the President of Stratos Paradias in his intervention referred to the inability of building owners to respond to the challenge of energy upgrading of existing buildings due to their heavy tax obligations (ENFIA etc.) and the lack of any substantial measure of support for this effort on the part of the state.
The National Energy and Climate Plan has been put out to public consultation, to which we invite all our members to participate. Below is the part of the plan that refers to public and private buildings.
Policy measures to improve energy efficiency in buildings
The Law 3661/2008 defined minimum energy efficiency requirements for buildings in addition to the Thermal Insulation Regulation that previously existed by incorporating the Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings 2002/91/EC into Greek legislation. Subsequently, the revised Directive 2010/31/EU was integrated with Law 4122/2013, which is still in force today. The minimum requirements for the energy efficiency of buildings, with the aim of achieving cost-optimal levels of energy efficiency, are determined based on the Building Energy Performance Regulation (KENAK)7. The calculation methodology is specified through the Technical Instructions of the Technical Chamber of Greece (TOTEE)8. KENAK determines the relevant calculation methodology, the minimum requirements for the energy efficiency of buildings, the type and content of the necessary Energy Efficiency Study (EIA) of buildings or building units, the procedure and frequency of energy inspections of buildings and heating systems and air conditioning, the type and content of the issued Energy Performance Certificate (PEA), the procedure for issuing it, the control of the energy inspection process, the relevant bodies, as well as any other more specific issue or necessary detail.
In the period 2011-2019, a total of 1,750,597 PEA Buildings were issued, of which 16.8% concern tertiary sector buildings and 83.2% residential buildings. Additionally, according to article 9 of Law 4122/2013, from 01/01/2020, all new buildings must be buildings with almost zero energy consumption, while for new buildings that house services of the public and wider public sector, this obligation has been in force since 01/01/2019. The same applies to buildings being radically renovated to the extent that this is technically, functionally and economically feasible, while individual interventions applied to existing buildings must meet the minimum energy efficiency requirements.
The national plan to increase the number of buildings with almost zero energy consumption, which has already been completed, is expected to contribute to the harmonization with the above requirements. 7K.Y.A. 5825-09/04/2010 and recently revised through K.Y.A. 178581-30/06/2017 8 Y.A. No. 182365-17/11-/017 48 Article 25 of Law 4067/2012 provides that in the case of new buildings, which are classified in the highest energy category A+ according to KENAK and require the minimum possible energy consumption through energy saving systems, CHP units and RES systems, an incentive is given to increase the building factor by 5%. This incentive increases to 10% in the case of buildings with minimum energy consumption, which at the same time present excellent environmental performance. Corresponding incentives are given in accordance with article 20 of Law 4178/2013 through the possibility of offsetting the fine of unauthorized persons with energy upgrading works.
Improving the energy efficiency of homes has been largely supported by the “Home Savings” programme, which was funded by the NSRF 2007-2013. The program was implemented in the period 2011-2017, with a total budget of €548 million, while the interim Program financed by national resources, to cover pending applications, is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. According to the program, interventions were supported energy savings in homes through financing of 15%-70% of the total cost in combination with the granting of an interest-free loan for the remaining amount. The program targeted low-energy homes (below energy category D), setting a specific energy target for those whose objective value did not exceed €2,100/m2. The level of financing was determined according to the income criteria of the owner, while the loan could not have a duration longer than six years. The energy savings from the interventions were proven by the issuance of an energy certificate before and after the implementation of the interventions, while the monetary transactions were ordered through the financial institutions contracting with the program. The total number of homes that participated in the program up to September 2017 amounted to 51,732 total eligible budget of €530 million and total public expenditure (Execonomou Fund and Direct Support) of €421.2 million. The total area of the renovated houses amounted to 5.2 million m2 and the total primary energy savings to 893 GWh.
In the context of the NSRF 2007-2013, a additional program for the energy upgrade of houses, which supported the replacement of old oil boilers with new ones of natural gas. The program9 accepted applications until April 2015, had a total budget equal to €15 million and provided a subsidy of up to 60% of the project cost. 9 was adopted with Y.A. No. Τ.14/02/19398/2927-14/11/2014 49
In February 2019, the “Home Savings” program was launched II”, which is financed within the framework of the NSRF 2014-2020 with a total public expenditure budget of €778 million (Cycle 1 and Cycle 2). The program is now implemented and subsidizes the energy upgrade of homes through the upgrade of the heating, cooling, hot water systems as well as the upgrade of the thermal insulation capacity of the building shell. Subsidies range from 0% to 60% according to the income criteria of the applicant, while the provision of an interest-free loan is also provided in this version of the program. The total eligible expenditure amounts to €25,000, the energy target varies equally according to the applicant’s income, while the project implementation process is supported through an electronic platform. By the beginning of October 2019, in the 1st Cycle of the Program, 42,646 applications had been made to the program, with a total eligible budget of €689 million and a total public expenditure budget (Excoyonmo Fund II and Direct Aid) of €459.5 million, and almost 53 had been completed % of these, while in the 2nd Cycle of the Program, 22,945 applications with a total eligible budget of approximately €400 million were definitively submitted, committing the total public expenditure budget of €275 million.
In the context of Article 7 of Law 4342/2015, it is foreseen to draw up an energy efficiency plan every two years, which contains specific goals and actions to save energy and improve energy efficiency, under the responsibility of the Regional Governors and Mayors for the buildings under their jurisdiction . In addition, the establishment of an energy management system is foreseen, while to the extent that this is economically feasible, energy efficiency plans are implemented using, among other things, special financial tools and instruments including energy service providers through the conclusion of a PPA. Finally, the above buildings that are part of energy efficiency plans or energy management systems have priority when establishing financial incentives and programs to improve the energy efficiency of public buildings.
Also, the institution of the energy manager10 is promoted in the public and wider public sector with the aim of improving energy efficiency and the rational use of energy. Based on the legislative framework, the responsibilities of the energy managers are determined, as well as the responsibility for the implementation of the specific measure by the competent public bodies. The energy manager is responsible for one or more buildings of each institution, depending on the operational needs, the total staff, the useful surface and volume of the institution’s buildings. It should be noted that the tasks of the energy managers are supported by a specially designed electronic platform for the energy management of public buildings. 10 Presidential Decree No. D6/B/14826/17-06-2008 50
At the same time, declaring their support for a common vision for the year 2050 for accelerating the elimination of their territory from the sources of greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening their capacity to adapt to the effects of climate change and providing access to safe, sustainable and affordable energy for their citizens, have signed up to date, in a voluntary base, 221 municipalities in the pact of mayors. Specifically, 138 of them have submitted an Action Plan for Sustainable Energy (and the Climate), 120 to achieve goals by the year 2020, 29 to achieve goals by the year 2030 and 34 have also included specific goals for adaptation.
The object of the “SAVE” Program was the implementation of actions and proven good practices with the aim of reducing energy consumption in the urban environment, emphasizing in principle the building sector (municipal buildings of First degree) and upgrading the public spaces and secondarily in the field of municipal and private transport and energy facilities, through the implementation of technical interventions and raising and mobilization of citizens, local authorities, companies and agencies. The “SAVING II” program, which was the follow -up of the “SEARCH” program, funded the implementation of energy saving interventions in existing municipal buildings and infrastructure of the first degree local authorities, including open building infrastructure. The programs were funded by the NSRF 2007-2013 and by the available budget of € 38.43 million, the € 18.5 million was finally available, leading to the completion of 73 projects, which are expected to contribute annual primary energy savings equal to 3.4 KTOE and 2.5 ktoe final. € 129 million will be donated to loans through the Infrastructure Fund. In the case of buildings in the tertiary sector, the program “Improving Energy Efficiency of Business” which has been launched and is expected to be announced by the end of 2019, aims to strengthen businesses, regardless of size, in order to improve their energy efficiency. Finally, energy efficiency contracts are an additional tool for promoting energy saving interventions in buildings both public and tertiary sector.
