The next government will be asked to solve the… Gordian link that prevents the realization of two (plus one) important “tools” for investments in Greece. These are the two critical Special Territorial Frameworks for Renewable Energy Sources and tourism, as well as the Regional Spatial Planning of the South Aegean, which in recent months have come and gone from the offices of the researchers to the competent services of the ministries. , without result.
Good drop for the Preserve program – they are historically successful
BEEF
In fact, the culmination of the object of study of the new special zoning framework (SSP) for RES (reception and approval of study) was foreseen by the political direction of the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MSE), based on the approved schedule, on April 13, 2023. The completion of the PSA for tourism was also determined for this spring.
In any case, the new zoning framework for RES, when completed, will be the state’s “road map” that will clearly outline in which areas the location of green power stations will be prohibited and where it will be allowed, as well as under what conditions and conditions. As reactions and calls for justice from citizens, agencies, environmental organizations, and local governments have been on the rise in recent years, the goal of the revised EPA is to strike a balance by putting a “hold on the brakes.” to the expansion of RES in ecologically sustainable areas. sensitive areas, without at the same time curbing “green” investments. For this reason, as the “gossips” say, it is no coincidence that the consultation of the study was postponed until after the elections to avoid unpleasant confrontations.
G. Souflia’s existing PES-RES, which was approved in 2009, had taken into account data from the 2000s that is now considered outdated, due to the evolution of RES technology (size of wind turbines, development of facilities marine RES, energy storage units, etc.), climate change that brought changes in wind speed and solar radiation, but also changes in environmental legislation.
wind turbines
From the evaluation carried out by the researchers, it can be deduced that the maximum permitted density of wind farms per OTA and space category _islands, Wind Priority Areas (PAP), Wind Suitability Areas (PAK) etc._, as determined by the Souflia HEPP-APE , offers the possibility of installing wind energy harnessing units, with a total power of 26 times the national goal for 2030, only from land facilities. At the same time, the need was found to restructure the priority and suitability areas based on the existing concentrations of RES projects, as well as the areas with the highest demand (for example, Evrytania, Thisvi, etc.), as well as the redefinition of the exclusion areas. based on the Special on the preparation of Environmental Studies.
Likewise, the size of the wind turbines makes it necessary to review the rules of integration into the landscape, or the minimum distances, and it may be necessary to limit their size when they are going to be installed in specific areas, e.g. near cultural heritage monuments, settlements or areas of organized tourism development.
In any case, the study, according to an official from the Foreign Ministry in the “Post Economic”, has been completed, however some adjustments are being made based on the new European guidelines for RES. However, even if it is immediately submitted to public consultation, if the current schedule is not expedited (preparation of a draft resolution to approve the PMS, drafting and presentation of the evaluation report of the consultation of the MIA and PMS Plan, control by part of the managing agency, etc.) the signing and publication of the KYA is not expected before the end of the year.
Delays also in the EHP for tourism
A “hot potato” for the new government will also be the culmination of the new PSA for tourism. For five and a half years, that is, since March 2017, tourist infrastructures have been zoned based on the 12 Autonomous Territorial Plans, not all of which have been revised, so they do not include various modern tourism development standards. The revision of the regional zoning of Western Macedonia, as well as two particularly touristic regions, the Peloponnese and the South Aegean, is still pending. In fact, the plan for the South Aegean has been up for consultation since January 2021 and since then its fate has been unknown.
The “adventures” of the Special Territorial Framework for Tourism began in 2017 when the State Council had canceled the first Special Territorial Framework (SPP) for Tourism of 2009, which had come into force again in 2015 when it had been canceled by the top judges in the second EPP of 2014.
In May 2018, the then Minister of the Environment and Energy, Mr. Giorgos Stathakis, had signed the contract for the assignment of the study for a new Tourism PSA, and in September of the same year, the then General Secretary of Territorial Planning of the Ministry of the Interior, Ms. Irini Klabatsea, had commissioned the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Study. Five years later, the new framework has still not seen the light of day.