The new Special Spatial Planning Framework for Renewable Energy Sources (RES), which came into force on Wednesday 19th August, changes the rules for the establishment of wind farms and solar-voltaic installations, as well as energy storage units throughout the country.
The new framework institutes more exclusion zones, stricter criteria for installation and special rules for protected and island areas. At the same time it lays down maximum limits for land coverage, aiming to link the development of RES with the protection of the physical and cultural environment and the needs of local communities.
Public consultation
The Ministerial Decision implementing the Framework was signed by the Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavros and Deputy Ministers Nikos Tsafos and Marilena Soukouli. The new Special Spatial Planning Framework replaces the previous framework adopted in 2008, adapting the planning to today’s environmental, social and economic conditions, with an eye to achieving the country’s energy targets up to 2050.
Its final form was reached following public consultation with institutional and social bodies, representatives of the scientific and business communities, and private citizens. The consultation process also incorporated the opinions of the National Spatial Planning Council and the Central Council for Spatial Issues and Disputes.
The framework for RES was drawn up in parallel with the corresponding Special Spatial Planning Frameworks for Tourism and Industry, with the aim of creating a unified model of spatial planning.
Restrictions on photovoltaic installations
For new photovoltaic stations an exclusion regime is established for environmentally, culturally and spatially sensitive areas.
Their installation is not permitted in protected areas of the NATURA 2000 network, in forest and woodland areas, and on Ramsar* and small island wetlands. The prohibition also includes national parks, listed natural monuments, aesthetic forests, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and protected areas of cultural heritage. Photovoltaic stations also may not be installed in areas with protected terraces, in Roadless Areas and on swimming beaches.
Following the public consultation, the list of excluded areas has been expanded to include historical sites, ancient monuments, listed monuments or those protected by law, as well as monuments designated after 1830. Also protected are areas with sources of water for human consumption.
For floating photovoltaic installations, further restrictions have been added for dive parks, recent shipwrecks, anchorages and artificial underwater attractions. Installation in the sea or lakes must take account of fishing grounds, and specific safety distances must be observed.
At the same time, an upper limit for land coverage by photovoltaic installations is established across the board. The maximum area per Regional Unit is set at 1.5% of its total area, so as to limit pressures on the landscape, on agricultural land and on other local uses.
Restrictions for wind farms
Important changes have been introduced into the siting of wind farms. Amongst other things, they cannot now be installed in Attica and in the Metropolitan Area of Thessaloniki, or in areas over 1,200 m in altitude. The exclusion zones also include Ramsar wetlands, small island wetlands, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the heart of national parks and specific nature protection zones.
Restrictions are also introduced for islands with an area of less than 300 sq km, with exceptions for critical or public infrastructure and for reasons of energy system security. There are also restrictions for areas outside urban limits where the development of tourism and recreational uses is planned, for sections of active quarrying and mining areas, for Roadless Areas and swimming beaches.
In Special Protection Areas of the NATURA 2000 network relating to bird fauna, the installation of wind farms is permitted only exceptionally, if explicitly provided for in an approved Special Environmental Study, and with a wind potential exceeding 7.5 m/s.
With the changes introduced after public consultation, wind farms are also prohibited in A and B category areas of the new Special Planning Framework for Tourism. Exclusion zones are also extended to historical sites, ancient and more recent monuments, sources of water for human consumption and “untrodden” beaches.
Special rules for islands
Of particular importance for island areas are the provisions for special landscape studies during the environmental licensing for wind farms, which will examine the size of the project, the character of the area and the impact on views and the landscape. In the mountainous areas of islands, there will be a case-by-case assessment based on the morphological, ecological and local character of each location.
The upper limit for land coverage by wind farms on island areas remains at 4% of the extent of each Municipal Unit.
The framework, finally, covers other forms of renewable energy such as biogas, biomethane, biomass, geothermal and small hydroelectric projects, updating the rules for their development.
(Haniotika Nea, 20/08/26)
*The Convention on Wetlands, signed in the Iranian city of Ramsar in 1971, is the intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. (www.ramsar.org)