Proposed RES framework introduces stricter rules

The proposed revisions to the spatial framework for renewable energy sources (RES) aim to modernize legislation in order to keep pace with technological advancements, address climate changes (such as changes in wind speed and solar radiation intensity) and better account for increased environmental protection concerns.

These proposed changes expand the areas where wind farms and solar parks are prohibited, encompassing, among others, landscapes of exceptional natural beauty and mountain areas protected under the road-free rule. This includes nine mountain ranges, totaling 1,042 square kilometers, with the Lefka Ori in Western Crete and Taygetos in the Peloponnese being the most notable among them. The proposed framework also imposes restrictions on the placement of RES in highly developed tourist areas.

For the first time, the framework introduces specific criteria...