Although the Greek economy is still in a recovery phase, Greek renewable energy policy is in line with the rest of the EU, and substantial support has been given to investments in renewable energy projects over the last ten years. However, investments in electricity generation based on wind energy have fallen behind government targets, as a result of the economic crisis and structural inefficiencies of the electricity sector. The Viotia Wind Parks project is a step towards filling the remaining gap for Greece’s 2020 renewables target, which requires additional investments of around EUR 4 billion by the end of the decade.

The project comprises three groups of wind turbines, with a combined capacity of 48.6 MW, all installed on mountain ridges in the Viotia region, around 90 kilometres north-west of Athens. Underground cables take the generated power to two existing electricity substations, where it feeds into the grid. As part of the environmental permitting process, all three sites underwent an environmental impact assessment, including public consultation, before the works started. The three wind farms became operational in 2017. All of the electricity produced by the wind farms will feed into the grid, based on a feed-in tariff, set in advance and legally guaranteed.

Greece has seen a fall in electrical demand in recent years, particularly in peak demand, due to the combination of a difficult economic climate and the growth in the use of solar energy. However, the introduction of electrical power from this project will reduce the dependence on some thermal power plants which weigh more heavily on the environment.