Greek electricity distribution system operator DEDDIE had to turn down many applications due to network oversaturation. The operator is struggling to keep up with an increasing inflow of applications for connection to the distribution network by investors primarily behind solar energy projects.
This problem is mainly related to small-scale investments, which capacity is not enough to secure a transmission network connections via the transmission system operator ADMIE. Though the distribution operator has made considerable administrative progress it has not been enough to cope with the increased number of applications.
In the first half of 2020, DEDDIE responded, either positively or negatively, to a total of 1,500 connection term applications by RES investors representing a total of 580 MW. This is almost double compared to applications processed by DEDDIE in the second half of 2019 (730 applications with total output of 245 MW), and triple the number of applications processed in the first half of 2019 (520 applications, 165 MW).
According to DEDDIE, some 7,000 applications arriving from various parts of the country currently remain pending. Even at the increased pace, DEDDIE will require at least two years to get through these applications, along with the inflow of new application, many of which concerning energy communities, which are given priority.
