A series of proposals to reduce the cost of energy for industry presented to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in a letter sent today by the leaders of 9 industrial organizations (SEV, SBE, EBIKEN, Hellenic Production, SVAP, SVTHSE, STHEB, SEVBDE, SVSE).

While acknowledging the efforts made to date, industry representatives emphasize that the intensity of the energy crisis is now such that it is creating an unprecedented existential crisis for businesses across the EU.

They also criticize the European leadership, emphasizing that while Europe’s main trading partners are pursuing an “aggressive” supportive industrial policy, “the European Union (at least for the moment) is limited to empty announcements of an industrial strategy, while insisting on a punitive policy that directly threaten the sustainability and competitiveness of domestic (especially energy-intensive) industries and counteract their own climate goals.”

The industrialists’ proposals include changing the support model by setting a final target price. To this end, industry organizations also propose subsidy adjustments instead of the applied model of announcing support measures approximately monthly, which “leads, according to industry representatives, to the impossibility of even short-term forecasting of the final cost of energy.”

It is also proposed to remove obstacles to the implementation of bilateral PPAs (purchasing power agreements), which are a key tool for reducing energy costs in enterprises, helping enterprises install renewable energy systems, funding from the NSRF or the Renewable Investment Recovery Fund. energy efficiency (purchase of new equipment, modernization of existing infrastructure, digitalization and use of alternative and renewable energy sources).

On the grid side, the industry is demanding infrastructure upgrades to improve the quality of power supply and provide electrical space for new RES connections. It is also noted that since August 2021, system fees (ADMIE) have increased by more than 150% without a simultaneous decrease in YKO. That is why it is proposed to immediately restore tariffs to pre-crisis levels while it lasts, as well as reduce ICOs based on interconnections already completed.

Finally, the letter nonetheless acknowledges the state’s “continuous efforts to mitigate the effects of the energy crisis on businesses” with initiatives such as financial instruments for energy transition investment, continued pressure on the EU and initiatives to find European solutions. in an energy crisis, dismantling ETMEAR, advancing the basis for offshore wind farms, efforts to quickly approve a new indirect emission cost offset scheme, recognizing the importance of finding an effective mechanism to offset excess energy. costs for businesses.