The energy transition is advancing, but one crucial question remains: are the funds truly reaching citizens and investments, or do they remain on paper?
In her article in Efimerida ton Syntakton, Ioanna Souka, Energy Policy Analyst at The Green Tank, sheds light on the significant delays in deploying resources from the Recovery and Resilience Facility — and the social and economic costs of these setbacks.
From the cancellation of the APOLLON program, which deprived vulnerable households of opportunities for energy empowerment, to delays in energy storage and self-production projects, vital opportunities for a fair and inclusive transition are at risk of being lost.
As Ioanna Souka notes, the shift to clean energy is not just a technological or economic challenge — it is a matter of social justice, transparency, and genuine citizen participation.
The was published in Greek in the print version of EfSyn on 15/11/2025 here.
English version below.
Do the funds reach citizens and investments?
By Ioanna Souka, Energy Policy Analyst, The Green Tank
The energy transition is moving forward, but the key question remains: under what terms? Is it simply a technological bet and an economic planning exercise, or a process that genuinely incorporates social justice and environmental protection? Clean energy is essential for phasing out fossil fuels, which burden not only the environment but also electricity bills. Yet without sufficient resources, transparency, and meaningful public participation, the transition risks becoming an empty promise.
A telling example is the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), which Greece has only recently revised and resubmitted to the European Commission, with a completion deadline of August 2026. Although this mechanism had secured significant funding for renewable energy and storage projects, delays in planning, permitting, and implementation now threaten to deprive the Greek economy of millions of euros.
Energy communities and vulnerable households left behind
These delays directly affect citizens, especially vulnerable groups. Recently, €100 million was lost from the APOLLON programme, which was intended to support vulnerable households through energy communities. Its removal from the RRF leaves a major gap at a time when 1 in 4 households in Greece is considered energy poor. Energy community projects can play a decisive role—creating local value chains, reducing energy costs, and strengthening the grids. Their cancellation carries not only financial but also social costs.
Storage falls victim to delays
At the same time, electricity storage projects—essential for phasing out expensive fossil gas and lowering electricity prices—are also facing setbacks. Since 2022, the European Commission has approved a support scheme for a total capacity of 900 MW. The three tenders that took place resulted in total investment costs (CAPEX) of around €150 million, while the initial budget allowed up to €200 million.
Given that the selected projects turned out to cost less than the amount approved by the Commission, instead of using the remaining fiscal space to add capacity, it now appears that even the capacity already secured is being reduced. This mainly concerns the last of the three tenders (189 MW), as only the “mature” projects—those likely to meet the implementation deadlines—are expected to proceed. The rest risk being excluded, as all projects must be completed by August 2026.
Every delay in implementing storage projects translates into lost money, lost jobs, and wasted GWh of green energy that is curtailed instead of displacing expensive fossil gas.
Meanwhile, investments in fossil gas infrastructure and hydrocarbon exploration are increasing, along with the speed at which new permits are approved. The contradiction is clear: while the energy transition requires accelerating clean energy and storage projects, resources and procedures still seem to favour fossil fuels.
Risk of missed opportunities for businesses, too
A similar risk exists for storage projects intended to support self-generation in businesses. On the last day of October—after a deadline extension by the Ministry of Energy—the application period closed for the €153 million programme subsidising storage systems coupled with PV installations for small and medium-sized enterprises. However, only six months remain for project implementation, and businesses still do not know which applications will ultimately receive funding. This uncertainty hinders planning and discourages investment at a time when energy autonomy is critical for their viability.
What kind of energy transition do we really want?
As lignite plants retire and fossil fuel use must decrease, clean flexibility solutions are the only viable path. Greece has made significant progress in renewable energy deployment, mainly through large-scale projects, while current planning foresees 4.7 GW of storage projects and about 2 GW in self-generation. But planning alone is not enough.
Success depends on timely implementation, transparency, and real benefits for society. Every delay costs money, time, and social capital. Funds must reach where they are needed: citizens, businesses, and the projects that shape a sustainable energy future for the country. Citizen participation in the energy transition is not a luxury—it is a prerequisite for a just and inclusive transformation.Top of Form
