Energy has been, and continues to be, a fundamental pillar of social well-being and economic development. Today, we find ourselves in a period of profound change, with our surrounding environment transforming rapidly and the energy market undergoing radical shifts. Technological advances, combined with geopolitical realignments, act as accelerators of these changes and redefine existing balances. Within this new context, priorities are now clear.
The first priority is energy independence and security of supply. In this regard, the country has already taken a decisive step: today, nearly half of domestic electricity generation comes from Renewable Energy Sources (RES). This significantly reduces dependence on imported resources, shields the system from geopolitical crises, and strengthens the overall resilience of the economy.
The second priority—one that is particularly critical for society—is the cost of energy. RES are now the cheapest form of electricity generation. However, the objective is not merely to produce low-cost energy, but to ensure that this benefit is meaningfully passed on to end consumers. Households and businesses must see tangible, measurable benefits reflected in their energy bills.
The third priority is the promotion of sustainability: the responsibility to leave a better and more resilient world to future generations. Sustainability, however, cannot be detached from either social acceptance or the economic efficiency of the system.
These three priorities form the core rationale of energy planning for the coming period. Having largely achieved the first objective, the challenge now is how to focus effectively on the second without undermining the third.
The reality behind the green transition
The increased penetration of RES has already transformed the structure of the electricity market. Generation from solar and wind sources suppresses wholesale market prices and creates conditions of abundance during certain hours of the day. Nevertheless, this benefit is not reflected to the same extent in final consumer bills. Regulated charges, taxation, network constraints, and distortions in market operation absorb a significant portion of the advantage created by low-cost domestic generation. As a result, the energy transition risks being perceived as a technical achievement rather than as a tangible everyday benefit for consumers.
Key priorities for 2026
First, a redesign of demand management is required in order to align consumption with periods of high RES generation. Dynamic tariffs, smart meters, and information tools can enable consumers to adjust their behavior and directly benefit from low-cost energy. Within this framework, energy storage constitutes an integral part of the solution.
Second, transmission and distribution infrastructure takes on a central role so that the low-cost energy produced can be delivered where it is truly needed. Strengthening the networks is essential to allow abundant and affordable domestic electricity to be utilized by energy-intensive activities such as data centers, desalination plants, and modern industry. In this way, the energy advantage is transformed into a broader development advantage for the country.
Third, efficient markets are required, with clear rules and without fragmented state interventions that distort price signals. Proper market functioning is a prerequisite for cost reduction and for the fair distribution of the benefits of the energy transition.
In this environment, the role of the regulator is decisive. RAEY (the Regulatory Authority) needs substantial reinforcement in terms of human resources and supervisory tools to ensure transparency, competition, and consumer protection. Only through strong oversight can trust be built and, ultimately, social acceptance of the transition be achieved, alongside the promotion of sustainability.
Social acceptance as a prerequisite for the energy transition
The success of the energy transition is judged not only on technical or economic grounds, but also in terms of social acceptance of the necessary investments. Already today, local communities hosting RES projects experience significant and measurable benefits. A central role in this is played by the special levy of 3% on the turnover of generation units, which directly returns value to local communities: on the one hand through funding local authorities for development and social projects, and on the other through direct reductions in household electricity bills.
Beyond this, RES projects strengthen the local economy on multiple levels. During their construction and operation, they generate revenue inflows into the local market through contracts, jobs, supplies, technical services, and partnerships with local businesses and professionals. Combined with compensatory projects, sponsorships, and targeted support for schools, associations, and social infrastructure, a coherent framework of benefits is formed that reinforces public trust. Active participation by local communities and the fair distribution of benefits are essential conditions for ensuring that the transition to RES, beyond being environmentally necessary, is also socially balanced and sustainable in the long term.
Overall, the next phase of the energy transition in Greece is not a matter of acceleration, but of deepening. Having largely secured energy independence through RES, the real challenge is to transform low-cost, domestic, and clean electricity into a tangible benefit for consumers, a development tool for the economy, and a stable environment for sustainable investments. This requires functional infrastructure, well-designed markets free of distortions, strong and effective regulation, and social trust. Only through this balance can the energy transition move from ambition to implementation.
