Greece moves ahead on offshore wind surveys before national program approval, aiming to speed up development

Greece is accelerating its offshore wind timetable by pushing forward technical surveys before the formal National Offshore Wind Development Program is adopted—an approach designed to reduce the risk of further delays as the regulatory framework remains incomplete.

Surveys can begin immediately under RED III-linked draft law

A new provision introduced by the Ministry of Environment and Energy, as part of draft legislation implementing the EU’s RED III directive, will permit wind and seabed surveys to start right away. The stated purpose is to speed up early-stage offshore wind development and avoid additional setbacks in expanding the sector.

EDEYEP to set up a vehicle and publish first eligible zones

To carry out the survey work, the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company (EDEYEP) is expected to establish a special purpose vehicle in the second quarter of 2026. The surveys are planned to be completed by June, aligned with targets linked to the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility.

After completion, EDEYEP will identify the most suitable offshore zones and publish them in the Official Gazette. Those areas are intended to underpin the first wave of offshore wind projects, which are expected to total around 1.9 GW.

Technical groundwork resumes despite stalled joint ministerial decision

While this process effectively restarts concession preparations, Greece’s national offshore program has not yet been formally adopted. The broader regulatory framework has been stalled for more than a year because a required joint ministerial decision has not been issued, leaving official development zones undefined.

Officials appear to be using this gap strategically: advancing surveys and permitting preparation so projects can move faster once market conditions improve and costs decline. Authorities also note that survey and permitting processes alone can take up to two years, making early groundwork critical.

Alexandroupoli pilot area faces tighter environmental requirements

The draft legislation also changes how the Alexandroupoli offshore area will be treated. A planned 600 MW of pilot wind projects in that zone will no longer fall under a fast-track renewable framework, meaning developers must complete full environmental impact assessments for the entire site.

The pilot projects are being developed by PPC, TERNA Energy, and Motor Oil.