The Green Tank submitted its positions to the European Commission’s public consultation on the Electrification Action Plan, emphasizing the need for a rapid, fair, and sustainable transition to clean energy.
Electrification is a central pillar of Europe’s strategy to achieve climate neutrality, as it enables the transition to an energy system increasingly based on renewable energy sources (RES) and clean flexibility solutions. Replacing fossil fuels with electricity from clean sources drastically reduces emissions, enhances energy security, and makes the energy system more efficient and economically sustainable in the long term.
Greece has made significant progress in recent years, particularly thanks to the rapid expansion of RES and the gradual phase-out of lignite. However, significant challenges remain, especially in electrifying sectors such as road transport. The electricity grid requires modernization and reinforcement, the adoption of heat pumps and electric mobility is progressing slowly, and energy storage and flexibility services are still in their early stages.
Regarding the consultation, the main points of our intervention include:
Policy Priorities
- Accelerate electrification across all sectors, with a focus on energy efficiency, affordable energy, and full decarbonization of fossil fuels.
- Set electrification and clean flexibility targets.
- Reform energy taxation in favour of electricity.
Main Barriers Identified
- Lack of financial incentives for households, small businesses, and industry.
- High grid costs, limited capacity, and connection delays.
- Lack of storage and supporting flexibility services.
Buildings & Heating
- Phase out subsidies for fossil fuels and set clear deadlines for discontinuing heating systems based on natural gas and oil.
- Promote heat pumps, smart demand management, and affordable heating for vulnerable households.
Transport
- Lack of charging infrastructure, particularly fast-charging stations and systems for heavy-duty vehicles.
- Need for simpler connection procedures, interoperability, and promotion of smart and bidirectional charging.
Flexibility & Storage
- Accelerate the deployment of smart meters and establish aggregators for project management.
- Support investments, especially for small-scale household projects and SMEs.
Energy Communities & Self-Generation
- Facilitate grid connection and access to targeted financing instruments.
- Strengthen and provide a clear regulatory framework for storage, flexible systems, and self-generation projects for households, SMEs, and energy communities.
Read the full comments submitted by The Green Tank to the public consultation here.
