Overview

Public service concessions involve granting private entities the right to operate and manage a public service, such as parking facilities, in exchange for paying the municipality an exploitation fee. This fee typically covers the costs associated with the use and maintenance of the service. This fiscal policy reduces these exploitation fees for concessionaires who invest in renewable energy, such as installing solar panels or electric vehicle charging stations. By offering fee reductions, the policy encourages the adoption of cleaner energy solutions, helps lower CO2 emissions, and provides financial benefits to both the environment and municipal budgets. Greek municipalities tested that policy in the framework of the project LOCAL4GREEN (Interreg MED 2014-20).

Evidence of success

In Edessa, the Municipality lease a parking area to a company who will install 10 kW solar panels and an EV charging station. The panels are expected to produce 12.5 MWh/year, enough to charge 4 cars annually. This replaces 4 gasoline cars, saving 12.6 tons of CO2/year.

LOCATION

Edessa (GR); Thermi (GR); Pilea-Hortiatis (GR)

TIMESCALE

2018-ongoing

Potential of learning or transfer

"Concessions" refer to agreements where a public authority grants a private entity the right to operate and manage a public service or facility. In exchange, the private entity usually pays the government a fee or shares revenue. They are quite common in the European Union, increasing the replicability potential of this fiscal model, that engage private companies to promote renewable energy with low costs for the public budget.

Contacts

For the Greek municipalities:
Anatoliki: info@anatoliki.gr