The installed photovoltaics operating in Greece doubled in the nine months from January to September 2011, with significant increases in other renewable energy sources during the same period, according to figures released by the Hellenic Transmission Systems Operator S.A. (HTSO) on Thursday.
The installed capacity of photovoltaics at the end of September was 326 MW, up from 162 MW in January. Installed windpower capacity in the same period reached 1230 MW from 1052 MW in January and that of small hydroelectric plants 205 MW, from 196 MW in January.
HTSO said that the growth of RES capacity was one of the reasons the company's deficit had risen, since the higher purchase price for 'green' energy and the RES fee paid by consumers via the Public Power Corporation were insufficient to cover the guaranteed income of 'green' producers.
Environment, Energy and Climatic Change Minister Yiorgos Papakonstantinou said this deficit was now at 150 million euro and would be reduced to half by the end of 2011 by financing HTSO with revenues from the sale of carbon emission rights.
The minister said that the cost for the purchase of green energy will be 'rationalised' but not with backdated effect, while decisions will be taken concerning the size of the RES fee. The minister clarified that this problem would cease to arise by 2013, at which time power providers will no longer receive free carbon emission rights and this will increase the government's revenues from power producers using carbon fuels. By 2013, electricity rates will gradually be adjusted to reflect the true cost of power, including the cost of carbon emission rights.
