Motor Oil and Terna Energy announced on Monday the development of Greece’s first offshore wind farm.
The wind farm will be built in the sea area between Alexandroupolis and the island of Samothrace and will be operational by the end of the decade, the Greek companies said.
This pioneering milestone project “will highlight the benefits of offshore wind farms to the national and local economy, as well as their harmonious coexistence with sectors such as shipping and tourism,” the companies stressed.
“Through their collaboration for the development of the first offshore wind farm in Greece, the Groups Motor Oil and Terna Energy are strengthening their footprint in domestic clean energy production and fulfilling their environmental commitments, while simultaneously promoting sustainable development and the country’s energy transformation,” they added.
Greece’s areas for offshore wind farm development
Recently Greece identified areas for private development in a draft plan that the government hopes will lessen the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.
Greece aims to build an installed capacity of at least 2 gigawatts from offshore, representing one-tenth of its onshore capacity.
The government’s goal is to have the first offshore wind farms in Greece operational before 2030, the Minister of Environment and Energy Theodoros Skylakakis said.
“The development of these projects is a national priority not only because it will contribute decisively to our energy independence, but also because it enables us to export green energy in the future,” the Minister said.
“It therefore gives us the opportunity for further economic growth and the opportunity to strengthen our country’s role as a critical regional energy hub,” he added.
The plan includes 25 eligible development areas in the Aegean, Ionian and Mediterranean seas that will become available in two time periods, some between 2025 and 2032, and some later, said the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company (HEREMA), which is in charge of the program.
Production of wind energy in Greece slows down in 2024
The news comes as data show wind energy had a slow year in Greece, adding just 125 MW of new capacity in 2024.
According to the Hellenic Wind Energy Association (HWEA or ELETAEN), after expanding by 230 MW in 2022, the sector added 543 MW in 2023 and then stalled in 2024, with only 125 MW.
Specifically, 39 new wind turbines were installed, representing investments of 150 million euros. The total installed wind capacity in the country reached 5.36 GW by the end of last year.
Despite the slowdown, HWEA estimates that in 2025 volumes will pick up as a result of projects maturing and entering the construction phase. The association also notes that regulatory hurdles by local bodies continue to plague the sector and delay investments.
