The doubling the budget of «Save 2021» programme», in order to cover up to the total number of applications submitted announced the Minister of Environment and Energy Costas Skrekas, during his speech at the Conference of the Technical Chamber of Greece «Green Deal Greece 2022», which continues for the second day at Stavros Niarchos Foundation. The Minister of Environment also spoke about the great response to participation in the new «Recycle Device» project», whereas applications will exceed 800,000, while referring to the new mechanism established by the government for electricity tariffs, he stressed that: «from 1 July, the increase in electricity prices is permanently reduced by 80% in all households».
Electricity prices: We take exception to what applies in Europe
«We put a cap on electricity prices, the surplus is directed to the Energy Transition Fund, Skrekas noted and said on the new electricity tariffs and the abolition of the indexation clause that «from July 1, the electricity price increase is permanently reduced by 80% to all households. Especially for SMEs up to 35kVA also by 80%, while the reduction will be up to 100% in vulnerable households,» adding that «special measures will also be taken for energy-intensive industries.».
«Is support and benefits a permanent solution?» the Minister asked. No, the solution is RES, he stressed, noting that already 40% of consumption is covered by RES, 42% by PV and wind and 8% by hydro.
«In the current government term, 5000 MW of Renewable Energy Sources have already been installed and the country has saved 1.2 billion euros in gas costs. If similar renewable energy plants had been integrated in previous years, the savings would have been greater, but unfortunately under the previous government the rate was low,» the Minister said, adding that: «it must be understood that policies to build or not build RES ultimately affects the pocket of the citizens through the savings from the cost of the fuels that replace them in the energy mix.».
Ο Kostas Skrekas also stressed that our country is 7th in the world in new RES installations (wind photovoltaic) and that there are now hours in the day «that we cover all energies with production from RES», noting that «with more RES we will cover more hours and only supplement with natural gas the hours when there is not enough».
«We need to be even more ambitious,« the Minister of Energy said, stressing that »the current NESP has a target of 20GW from RES in 2030 but Greece will reach this target much earlier, i.e. in 2026 or 2027 at the latest«, stating that »in the next 4 years at least 6000MW will be installed".
Saving on housing
The New Economy means reduction of power consumption and at the same time support the domestic industry, with engineering projects and local added value, the Minister of National Economy stressed, noting that «in cooperation with the TEEE we have changed the ExoEconomy», so that there is an evaluation in savings combined with social criteria, in order to support vulnerable households. «We have to support the most vulnerable, with greater subsidies for the weakest,» the Minister of the Environment stressed.
THE Costas Skrekas also said that «the New Economy is running with a 630 million budget, with an estimated 1 billion euros of mobilised funds» and noted that «there are already more than 40 thousand houses included and as many more eligible, announcing that «we are ready to double the budget so that all or almost all those who have applied and qualify can join the programme».
«Recycle Device» programme»
Mr. Skrekas also referred to the «Recycle Appliance» programme» which aims to bring for each participating household energy savings by 40% average, with a reduction in electricity costs of 400-500 euros per year. The budget concerns about 200 thousand households and, according to the Minister, there are already 550 thousand applications on the platform and will reach an estimated 800 thousand by July 5, when the deadline for submitting applications, noting that the intention is to find additional resources to continue the program.
THE MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT noted that «since we received the popular mandate three years ago, the government has faced a series of crises: migration on the northern border, a pandemic and a health crisis that became an economic crisis, a war and therefore a price crisis and an inflation crisis that we don't want to become a food crisis anywhere in the world or a stagflation crisis.» He stressed that: «This government did not backtrack on its election pledges and cut taxes. And that is why the Greek economy is showing signs of strength, high growth rates.».
The The Ministry of Environment was at the centre of the crisis from the very beginning, the Minister noted. «We have been supporting households since last September. We created the Energy Transition Fund for the vulnerable. It will continue to operate and surpluses from emissions trading will go to it. Through this fund and other resources, he stressed, «we will continue to support households in the future while we are strengthening and accelerating investments in energy saving, energy storage and in industry and business.».