Ioanna Theodosiou and Nikos Mantzaris from The Green Tank participated in the third annual meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the Just Transition Development Programme (JTDP) 2021 -2027, which took place in Megalopoli. They had the opportunity to exchange views on the progress of the JTDP with members of the Just Transition Special Authority (EYDAM), the European Commission and other members of the Monitoring Committee.
Below is a summary of comments and suggestions made by the Green Tank, thematically:
On the progress of the programme over the last year
Heat pumps: A 2nd heat pump programme shoudl be created immediately and it should be considerably larger than the first one.
Energy Communities:
- There is a need for coordination between EYDAM and the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator in order to exhaust all available capacity margins so that progress can be made on the issue of grid adequacy.
- It is proposed to redistribute resources from this programme to finance self-production projects by existing energy communities set up either by citizens or by small and medium-sized enterprises with or without the participation of municipalities. Based on HEDNO data, as of August 2024, there were 18 active and self-production projects by energy communities with connection terms (excluding the projects of the Kozani energy community) with a total capacity of 10.92 MW. Therefore, it is proposed that a portion of the available resources be allocated to finance the construction of these self-generation projects and accompanying batteries.
- It is proposed to offer financial support from the resources of the JTDP or from the auctioning of carbon emission allowances (previously managed by the Green Fund) for synergies between energy communities with companies building large renewable energy projects in the transition areas that are connected to high voltage.
On the 9 actions of the specialisation blocs
Support for investment projects of existing/new and start-up large (27.1, 28.1), existing/new and start-up SMEs (25.1, 26.1) for the promotion of renewable energy production, renewable hydrogen and high efficiency cogeneration (€140 million): For the call to be published the following are proposed:
- Explicitly state that CHP projects other than fossil fuel CHP are funded, as is already the case in the specificity issue for energy upgrades of buildings belonging to first and second tier local authorities.
- Explicitly mention the renewable energy technologies eligible for funding and better document the respective options.
iii. Include storage technologies other than green hydrogen, such as pumped storage and batteries, in the eligibility.
Strengthening of Existing/New SME enterprises in island regions of the JTDP 2021-2027 (€ 50 million) (31.1 & 32.1): It is proposed to increase the relevant weighting factors.
Social Services Grid in the Municipalities of Gortynia, Megalopoli, Oichalia & Tripoli. Personalised Social Inclusion & Poverty Risk Reduction Services (3.5 million) & Upgrading of Social Structures (2.4 million): It is proposed to consider broadening the criteria in these two programs to include not only beneficiaries of the minimum guaranteed income, but also groups of citizens in a difficult situation due to the lignite phase-out (e.g. families of workers in the lignite chain who lose their jobs but are not entitled to the minimum guaranteed income).
On specialisations after Q1 2025
To support young people, it is proposed to include in next year’s programming (2nd-4th quarter of 2025) the specificity of an action aimed at strengthening the entrepreneurship of young people (up to 35 years old) in transition regions.
You can see all of The Green Tank’s comments and suggestions on the 3rd Meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the MAP 2021 – 2027 here.
