Greece moves to restart offshore wind with state-led surveys and a later tender framework

Greece’s offshore wind sector is regaining momentum after an extended slowdown, as authorities seek to restart early-stage development through a newly activated project framework. The move matters for investors because it aims to reduce upfront uncertainty by generating site data before projects are opened to private capital.

Survey mechanism tied to EU recovery commitments

A legislative proposal submitted by the Ministry of Environment and Energy would create a pathway for launching initial marine and wind measurement campaigns—an essential step in identifying where future offshore wind farms could be built. The initiative is linked to commitments under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, positioning it as an early milestone in advancing the sector.

HEREMA to set initial survey zones under a transitional plan

Under the transitional arrangement, HEREMA (Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management) will lead efforts to define initial survey zones until a full national offshore wind development program is formally established. The selected areas are expected to come from pre-identified regions, including areas near Crete, Evia, the northern Patraikos Gulf, Rhodes, and parts of the Aegean Sea.

Centralized studies designed to lower developer risk

The planned model follows a centralized, state-led approach: a public entity conducts early studies and collects technical and environmental information before projects move toward private investment. Authorities say this structure is intended to reduce upfront risk for developers and lower initial costs by providing pre-prepared site data, which could help accelerate deployment once auctions begin.

Tenders planned later as groundwork is refined

Officials are also using the current slowdown in the global offshore wind market to prepare regulatory and technical requirements more thoroughly ahead of competitive tenders. Those tenders are now expected toward the end of the decade.

RAAEY oversight and eligibility requirements for bidders

Future auctions will be overseen by Greece’s energy regulator RAAEY. Developers will face strict eligibility criteria requiring demonstrated experience in offshore wind development, including a track record in large-scale projects, along with financial capacity evidenced by solid turnover and capital strength.

By prioritizing measurements and pre-selection of survey areas before moving into auctioning, Greece is effectively shifting early-stage risk away from developers—while setting up a more demanding bidding process for later rounds of investment.