Author
Ilias Tsagas
Greek-born Ilias has written for pv magazine since 2012, reporting on renewable energy news, electricity market developments and energy policy. His geographic area of expertise includes Europe and the MENA region. Based in London, Ilias is also working on a PhD at the University of Greenwich (Business School), looking at the UK’s Electricity Market Reform.
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Articles written by Ilias Tsagas
Greek utility PPC plans 860 MW energy storage in mining region
Pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects feature prominently in plans by the Public Power Corporation (PPC) for Western Macedonia, which also include solar, a 'hyperscale' data center, gas, and green hydrogen.
Apr 09, 2025
Greece awards 189 MW of battery storage in third auction
Greece’s latest auction has awarded subsidies to 188.9 MW of standalone, front-of-the-meter, utility-scale battery energy storage. The auction was the third and final edition of a battery storage subsidy program launched in 2023, with the country now turning its focus towards a new 4.7 GW unsibsidized BESS scheme.
Greece launches 4.7 GW utility-scale battery storage program
Following a brief consultation in late February, the Greek government has unveiled a new battery storage program targeting 4.7 GW of utility-scale, standalone projects which will be given a priority connection and operated on a merchant basis without subsidy support. The decision detailing the new program is the last policy made by the energy ministry before a cabinet reshuffle initiated last week.
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Cyprus introduces energy storage subsidy scheme
Cyprus’ Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry has launched a subsidy scheme for energy storage systems that can be added alongside existing renewable energy plants. Eligible renewable power plants should be remunerated either by feed-in tariffs (FiTs) or net billing systems.
Greece’s Sunlight abandons its gigafactory plans
Greece’s leading battery energy storage business, Sunlight, has agreed to acquire 51% of Lehmann Marine GmbH, a German company that supplies the marine industry with energy storage. Sunlight’s plan for a 20 GWh lithium-ion battery gigafactory in Greece has been abandoned, however.
Cypriot utility aims to add 400 MWh of battery storage
Cyprus state-owned utility, the Electricity Authority of Cyprus, is looking to add 400 MWh of battery storage capacity, however local energy market stakeholders have different plans. Unless there is a solution to this deadlock, the island country will continue curtailing massive amounts of solar electricity.
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Greece readies for next battery storage growth phase
Greece’s energy storage market is hot with a number of new policies paving the way to new applications in the market. The government is now working a new plan, which will allow the colocation of batteries with existing solar plants as well as standalone, in front of the meter battery energy storage systems.
Bulgaria’s battery storage market gears up
Bulgaria has installed between 40 MWh and 50 MWh battery energy storage capacity to date. However, a new national legislation as well as funds provided through the European Union’s Recovery and Resilience Facility could see the country install another 1 GWh over the next two years.
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