Renewables
Greece proposes 60 percent renewable power mandate for data centres
The Greek government has drafted legislation requiring data centres to source at least 60 percent of their electricity from renewables.
Key points
- Draft legislation introduced by the Ministry of Environment and Energy sets stricter requirements for data centres.
- Investors must provide financial backing, cover grid connection costs, and pay a €200,000 per MW bank guarantee.
- The Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy and Water will establish a national data centre registry.
- The proposals follow similar regulatory moves in Spain targeting data centre energy consumption.
What happened
According to Data Center Dynamics, the Greek government has proposed new legislation that would compel data centres to source a minimum of 60 percent of their power from renewable energy. The Ministry of Environment and Energy introduced the draft rules to increase regulatory oversight of the expanding sector.
The framework introduces stricter financial and operational prerequisites for developers. Investors will need to prove financial backing before reserving grid capacity and must cover all associated grid connection and reinforcement costs. Projects connecting to the transmission system will face turnover and financial capacity checks, alongside a €200,000 per megawatt bank guarantee designed to deter speculative applications.
Why it matters
Data Center Dynamics reported that the Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy and Water will establish a dedicated registry to monitor sector growth and enhance transparency. Grid operators will also be required to publish regional connection capacity updates every three months, while flexible connection agreements will allow limits on power draw in capacity-constrained areas.
The legislation follows a similar initiative in Spain, which proposed an 80 percent hourly renewable sourcing requirement for data centres in August. Data Center Map figures cited in the report note that Greece currently hosts 29 operational facilities managed by 19 operators, reflecting steady growth in a historically modest market.
What comes next
The draft proposals also outline the creation of a €2.3 billion Island Decarbonization Fund. This mechanism aims to finance infrastructure that reduces oil-fired power generation reliance in favour of renewables and energy storage facilities.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Renewables are the fastest-growing part of the world’s energy system. The COP28 goal is to triple capacity by 2030, and solar mini-grids are the fastest route to power for millions of people without electricity.
40.6% of electricity in Greece was renewable in 2021Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
