Greece Enacts New Spatial Framework for Renewable Energy with Regional 1.5% Land Cap

The Greek government enacted a revised Special Spatial Framework for Renewable Energy Sources, which was formally approved by ministerial decision and published in the Government Gazette on 19 August 2026. The new spatial plan replaces the previous regulatory framework established in 2008, an era when renewable energy generation represented a substantially smaller share of the Greek energy mix. Over the past 18 years, the deployment of wind and solar installations alongside commercial energy storage altered territorial requirements. The updated framework seeks to transition renewable energy deployment from rapid market penetration toward structured spatial management extending through 2050.

The policy establishes defined geographic boundaries for renewable investments, outlining specific areas designated for industrial development while defining exclusion zones to safeguard natural habitats.

Our goal is to produce more Greek energy from the sun and wind, strengthening our energy autonomy and securing more affordable prices for households and businesses.

Solar restrictions and regional caps

The framework creates uniform nationwide restrictions on the siting of new photovoltaic installations. Solar energy projects are excluded from protected areas within the Natura 2000 network, forests and forest lands, Ramsar wetlands, small island wetlands, national parks, declared natural monuments, and aesthetic forests. Development is likewise prohibited in designated Landscapes of Outstanding Natural Beauty, protected cultural heritage locations, Roadless Areas, and coastal bathing waters. Following feedback gathered during the public consultation stage, the government expanded these exclusions to include historical sites, ancient monuments, and geographic zones containing water sources used for human drinking supplies.

Floating solar developments are subject to additional sector-specific restrictions. Planners excluded floating photovoltaic installations from marine dive parks, areas containing recent shipwrecks, active marine anchorage zones, and artificial underwater attractions to protect maritime activities and coastal tourism.

To mitigate territorial saturation and protect agriculture, the framework introduces a carrying capacity mechanism calculated for each Regional Unit. Under this rule, new ground-mounted photovoltaic installations cannot exceed a total ceiling of 1.5% of the overall land area of any individual Regional Unit. This cap directly responds to local concerns regarding the cumulative conversion of arable agricultural land and landscape deterioration in high-density energy regions.

Exclusions for wind installations

The updated regulations establish stricter spatial limits for wind energy projects across mainland Greece and its islands. New wind farm construction is prohibited throughout the entire Attica region and across the Metropolitan Area of Thessaloniki. Siting bans also apply to all geographic areas situated at elevations above 1,200 meters. Wind developments are further barred from Ramsar wetlands, small island wetlands, and Landscapes of Outstanding Natural Beauty, mirroring several environmental restrictions applied to solar infrastructure.

Climate targets and policy goals

The zoning framework is calibrated to support the national objectives established in Greece's National Energy and Climate Plan. The plan establishes legally binding benchmarks for 2030, targeting a renewable energy contribution of at least 43% in gross final energy consumption. For the electricity sector specifically, the plan mandates that renewable sources provide 75.7% of gross final electricity consumption by the end of the decade.

Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou stated that harnessing solar and wind resources requires structured planning, clear rules, and environmental protection. The revised framework establishes clear territorial criteria to allow the energy sector to expand capacity while shielding vulnerable cultural and natural locations.