Greece’s offshore wind market plans have hit a legal obstacle after the Athens Administrative Court of Appeal revoked production licences for two pilot developments in the northern Aegean. The decision places the first wave of projects on a longer path to completion. It followed a challenge by the Municipality of Samothrace.
Licences overturned for fixed-bottom projects off Evros
The ruling affects fixed-bottom projects planned offshore Evros, northeast of the island. PPC is developing one scheme with a stated capacity of 216 MW. A second development is being promoted by TERNA Energy and Motor Oil with an approximately 400 MW capacity.
The two developments are commonly presented as a combined 600 MW pilot programme, although the individually stated capacities add up to 616 MW. The final installed capacity would depend on turbine selection, grid allocation and the configuration accepted through permitting. Both projects were licensed before Greece adopted its National Offshore Wind Development Programme.
Role in national strategy and offshore wind envelope
After their initial licensing, the projects were incorporated into Greece’s national strategy as demonstration schemes. They were allocated 600 MW within the government’s recently identified offshore wind envelope of 2.35 GW. Their role was also linked to testing permitting procedures and establishing grid-connection arrangements.
The pilot projects were intended to give Greek contractors, ports and service providers their first opportunity to participate in an offshore wind supply chain. They were also expected to support Greece’s target of developing approximately 1.3 GW of floating offshore wind by 2032. The developers are expected to challenge the ruling before the Council of State, Greece’s highest administrative court.
Transmission access, financing conditions and cost implications
The projects have already secured access to transmission capacity, but grid reservation alone cannot offset an unresolved production licence and contested spatial approval. The court decision does not terminate the developments, but it changes how risk is allocated within Greece’s offshore wind programme. Environmental and municipal consent has shifted from a development-stage issue to a central financing condition.
Indicative capital requirements for fixed-bottom offshore wind in the northern Aegean covering 600-616 MW could range from €1.8 billion to €2.5 billion. The estimate depends on water depth, foundation design, port infrastructure, grid works and financing costs. Annual operating expenditure could reach €55-85 million, while capacity factors of 40-48% would imply generation of roughly 2.1-2.6 TWh per year.
A legal delay of 12-18 months could reduce equity returns by approximately 1.5-3 percentage points. The impact would come through additional development spending, financing carry and delayed revenue, alongside potential changes in turbine or construction pricing. A prolonged dispute could also require new environmental studies or alterations to project boundaries.
