The BRIGHTROOF permitting analysis examines the administrative, technical and land-use planning issues that Greek local authorities encounter when developing rooftop solar photovoltaic projects.
INZEB presents the report “Analysis of permitting bottlenecks in Greece regarding the transposition of the revised RED”, prepared under BrightRoof and reviewed by WWF Greece. The publication examines the conditions affecting the development of photovoltaic installations on public buildings, organising the analysis around three connected categories: administrative procedures, technical requirements and land-use planning considerations.
The report considers the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED) alongside the recast Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). This provides the context for examining national procedures and municipal implementation. At the European level, solar deployment requirements take account of technical suitability and economic and functional feasibility, making the characteristics of individual buildings an important part of implementation.
The analysis follows the practical development of a municipal project rather than treating permitting as an isolated administrative step. It examines how energy needs, building suitability, project preparation, procurement and grid connection interact throughout the process.
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Administrative procedures and project preparation
The administrative chapter examines the legislative framework and the sequence of actions involved in developing a rooftop photovoltaic project. It considers feasibility studies, applications and agreements, procurement, contractor selection, installation and activation. It also presents an internal municipal roadmap covering energy needs assessment, identification of suitable sites, examination of financing options, investment decisions and the operation and maintenance of the completed system.
The identified obstacles include the complexity of applicable requirements, difficulty keeping up with regulatory changes, and the time needed to prepare and conduct public procurement procedures. The report also examines questions about self-consumption arrangements and how to handle electricity generated by municipal installations. These subjects are presented as implementation issues that require coordination across technical, administrative and financial functions.
The analysis extends beyond initial approval to consider maintenance and end-of-life responsibilities. It notes concerns about projects where these issues were not sufficiently considered during preparation and procurement, highlighting their relevance to the continued operation of installations after commissioning.
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Technical readiness and grid infrastructure
The technical chapter distinguishes between constraints related to buildings, electricity networks, and available expertise. For buildings, it examines structural adequacy, roof condition, waterproofing and insulation needs, available installation space, shading, and equipment placement. These considerations are particularly relevant when photovoltaic systems are being added to existing facilities rather than incorporated into a new building’s design.
Grid connection is addressed as another component of project feasibility. The report discusses network capacity constraints, connection delays and the relationship between electricity generation, demand and storage. It also examines the availability of specialised personnel within municipalities and the challenges of preparing, commissioning, and overseeing technical studies. The analysis therefore connects infrastructure limitations with the organisational capacity needed to progress a project.
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Land-use planning and building-specific considerations
The third category concerns location and planning conditions. The report reviews issues associated with heritage sites, traditional settlements, listed buildings, protected areas and coastal locations. It also considers physical constraints affecting rooftop installations, including the usable roof area, existing equipment and the space needed for the photovoltaic system and its associated components.
This part of the analysis helps distinguish considerations that affect many municipal projects from those that arise because of a particular building or location. It complements the administrative and technical chapters, giving readers a framework for examining the different conditions that may apply across a municipal building portfolio.
The report’s conclusions identify grid-related delays, the complexity of regulatory requirements and shortages of specialised municipal personnel as persistent obstacles. The publication provides the analytical basis for BrightRoof’s subsequent recommendations on permitting barriers. Read alongside the financial bottlenecks analysis and the European best practices collection, it contributes to a broader understanding of the work involved in preparing rooftop solar projects on public buildings.
Funding acknowledgement and disclaimer
This project is part of the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). The opinions put forward in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN).
