Photovoltaics on rooftops and balconies, what is changing

A boost to self-consumption of electricity is expected with the entry into force of the new Ministerial Decision of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, which simplifies and accelerates the procedures for the installation and operation of small generation stations with or without a battery.

The new market for photovoltaic -mainly- systems that will be able to be installed with a simple declaration on rooftops or even balconies, is opening at a time when photovoltaics both in our country and in Europe are breaking one record after another.

They thus constitute an important bulwark against the increase in electricity prices due to the surge in international natural gas prices, an increase that would have been even greater without renewable sources.

According to data from Ember, in June, for the first time in history, solar energy covered one quarter of the EU's electricity.

Specifically, photovoltaic generation in June 2026 reached the record level of 52 TWh of electricity in the EU, representing 25% of the Union's total electricity generation, breaking the previous record of 23%, which was recorded in May.

In the same month, solar energy was above nuclear (21%), natural gas (15%), wind (14%) and hydropower (12%), while coal produced just 8%.

New records in Greece as well

In the same month in Greece, according to Green Tank data, photovoltaics accounted for 31.6% of total generation, that is 1,456.5 gigawatt-hours out of a total of 4,608.6, while over the half-year the sun covered 21% of generation.

Furthermore, if one also takes into account the non-interconnected islands, the share of photovoltaics rises to close to 34% for June and to 25.1% for the half-year.

As Green Tank's Head Policy Analyst, Nikos Mantzaris, tells ANA-MPA:

“After years of delays that had 'frozen' the market, the long-awaited decision to strengthen self-consumption is a step in the right direction, with a clear improvement compared to the draft that had been put to public consultation. Beyond meeting all the deadlines provided for by the Decision, the key issue is for the State to proceed with actions to inform citizens about the possibilities now available to them, so that they can significantly and sustainably reduce their electricity bills”.

Regarding the ministerial decision on self-generation, the Association of Photovoltaic Companies expressed its satisfaction, noting that, despite the long delay, the decision incorporates most of the market's proposals, as well as new regulations provided for by Community Directives.

The 15 points of the new decision

The 15 most important points of the new framework, established by decision of the Minister of Environment and Energy Stavros Papastavrou and Deputy Minister Nikos Tsafos, as codified by SEF, are:

1. Data exchange and financial transactions

The flows for data exchange between the entities and the carrying out of all financial transactions between self-consumer-Aggregated Representation Entity (FoSE)-Supplier are defined.

A corresponding provision is also made in the event that, instead of a FoSE, the station is represented by DAPEEP or by HEDNO NII.

2. Two bilateral contracts instead of a tripartite one

The provision in simultaneous netting for a tripartite contract between self-consumer-supplier-FoSE is abolished and two separate bilateral contracts are provided for, between self-consumer-supplier and self-consumer-FoSE.

Especially for the Non-Interconnected Islands (NII), two separate bilateral contracts are provided for, between self-consumer-supplier and self-consumer-HEDNO NII.

3. Simplification for residential photovoltaics

The provision in simultaneous netting and virtual simultaneous netting for the “Residential Photovoltaics up to 10.8 kW” Program for a tripartite contract between self-consumer-supplier-DAPEEP is abolished and one bilateral contract between self-consumer-supplier is provided for.

4. Who is included in the program up to 10.8 kW

It is clarified that the consumers included in the “Residential Photovoltaics up to 10.8 kW” Program are those who have a residential-use supply, regardless of whether they are natural or legal persons.

5. Regulations for local authorities and public sector bodies

It is stipulated that for first- and second-degree Local Government Organizations, legal entities under public or private law of the public sector, and charitable foundations, the monetary value for the total surplus energy of the stations is credited to the settlement account of the consumption supply for offsetting, as is also the case for residential self-consumers.

6. Compensation for surplus energy

It is clarified that the compensation of the self-consumer for surplus energy is based on Day-Ahead Market prices or on the Special Purchase Price (E.T.A.) of RES technologies, as published each time by the Renewable Energy Sources and Guarantees of Origin Operator.

Until now, operating aid was provided for instead of the E.T.A. Provision for E.T.A. exists in the NII.

7. Expansion of collective self-consumption

The definition regarding the application of collective self-consumption is extended to consumers located not only in the same building, but also to consumers within a housing complex, in compliance with the definition that exists in the law.

At the same time, it is clarified for collective self-consumption that the revenues from surplus energy are paid into the accounts of the self-consumers and not to their authorized representative.

Representation is also provided for photovoltaic stations up to 10.8 kW for collective self-consumption, which exclusively serve residential-use supplies and common areas, by DAPEEP or HEDNO NII instead of by a FoSE.

8. Stations that do not wish to receive compensation

Representation is provided for self-consumption stations, which inject energy into the grid but do not wish to be compensated for it, by DAPEEP or HEDNO NII instead of by a FoSE, and any revenues of the stations are credited to ELAPE.

For these specific station cases, it is also provided that no simultaneous netting or virtual simultaneous netting contract is concluded, but only registration in the Registry of DAPEEP or HEDNO NII is required.

9. Self-consumption with storage systems

For the Interconnected System, the storage system charges from the photovoltaic system and, provided it is zero feed-in, that is, it does not inject energy into the grid, it may also absorb energy from the grid.

For the NII, the storage system does not exchange energy with the NII Grid, that is, it neither absorbs nor injects energy.

10. Storage stations without injection

The installation of storage stations by natural and legal persons is permitted.

The installed capacity of the storage station may not exceed 100% of the agreed capacity of the consumption supply.

It is provided that, for the installation of the storage station, the supply is to be upgraded, if required and if the existing consumption supply is not sufficient, and that a direction sensor and a telemetry system are to be installed.

Under conditions, the participation of the supply that installs a storage station in other self-consumption systems is permitted.

11. “Balcony photovoltaics”

A procedure is defined for online notification of the Operator regarding the installation of micro-solar systems with a plug-in connector up to 800 W maximum injection power and 1,000 kW installed capacity.

The ministerial decision largely adopts the views of the market and simplifies the process for the so-called “balcony photovoltaics”.

12. Self-consumption through a third party

It is clarified that, in the case of self-consumption through a third party, the third party may be the holder of the station, that is, have all permits in its name, but may not conclude the simultaneous netting and virtual simultaneous netting contract, which is mandatorily concluded by the self-consumer, who also receives the financial benefit from the station.

It is stipulated that, in the case of self-consumption through a third party, a separate meter is installed for the station and virtual simultaneous netting is applied, so that the third party has the responsibility and obligations for the station and the self-consumer has the responsibility and obligations for the consumption supply.

13. Extension of settlements

Suppliers are given the possibility, following agreement with the self-consumer, to extend the time period for carrying out settlements during the application of energy netting and virtual energy netting.

14. Change of supplier or FoSE

It is clarified that, in the event of a change of supplier or FoSE, the netting contract is terminated and a new one is concluded for the remaining period of the 20-year term of the original contract.

15. Updating of contracts

Finally, all templates of the required netting contracts are replaced and updated.