#Author: Er Abinesh Chettri ,Mechanical Engineering ,NIT Sikkim India, https://nitsikkim.ac.in/
Greece has enacted the country’s first climate law to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. The law also establishes a system to monitor and further tighten regulations on an ongoing basis over the next three decades. The National Climate Law adheres to European Union targets to cut emissions by at least 55% by the end of this decade and by 80% by 2040. But the law also calls for the development of sectoral carbon budgets, making it among the most progressive climate laws in Europe. Specifically, the law details the development of five-year carbon budgets for seven sectors of the economy: electricity and heat production, industry, transport,
agriculture, buildings, waste, and land use & forestry. These sectoral carbon budgets will allow the government to monitor and adjust emissions targets on a continuous basis, providing for even tougher goals in the future.
For example, the law affirms Greece’s commitment to completely eliminate the use of lignite in power production by 2028. But by next year, in 2023, the deadline for phasing out fossil fuels will be reviewed, allowing for that deadline to be moved forward, possibly to as early as 2025, taking into account the issue of energy security. Under the National Energy and Climate Plan, Greece aims to double installed renewable energy capacity to around 20 Gigawatts by the end of the decade. And within the next few weeks, the Ministry of Environment and Energy is expected to unveil its new regulatory framework for the development of offshore wind parks. Already there has been strong foreign investor interest in offshore wind facilities in Greece, with several groups waiting for the new framework to launch projects. Among them: Norwegian state energy giant Equinor has expressed interest in
investing in Greek offshore wind facilities. Other major players from Spain, Denmark and the UAE have also entered into agreements with local companies for the joint development of offshore wind farms in Greece.
Greece begins net zero journey with new climate
laws
May 27 (Renewables Now) – The Greek government on Thursday adopted the
country’s first national climate protection law that sets interim targets as part of a 2050 net-zero strategy and calls for exiting lignite power generation by 2028. The legislation aims to address climate change and lower Greece’s reliance on fossil fuels, which was further exacerbated by Russia’s war in Ukraine. With the ultimate goal to decarbonize the country’s economy under the EU’s 2050 climate objectives, the new law sets interim targets of cutting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by at least 55% by 2030 from 1990 levels, and by 80% by 2040. As previously announced, the objectives are planned to be
achieved by shutting down 100% of Greece’s coal-fired power generation capacity by 2028, encouraging emission-free transportation and prohibiting the use of crude oil to produce power on islands that are not connected to the mainland grid by 2030. Meanwhile, the adoption of renewable energy will be promoted by a goal to make renewables account for up to 70% of the final energy consumption by 2030. In line with the plan, a draft for easing the licensing process for renewable energy projects is in the works and huge investments are proposed for expanding the national power grid so as to accommodate the rising capacity. Source: renewable Now, Enterprise Greece
