Remote areas in Greece rely on micro-hydropower plants to supply electricity to isolated communities

In mountainous Greece, irrigation dams that serve agricultural and drinking water needs offer untapped opportunities for micro hydropower development. Research has shown that transforming these dams into small-scale hydropower facilities can have a twofold effect: enhancing the local energy portfolio with a regulated renewable energy source while providing additional flexibility to the local system. Through reservoir operation, such facilities can also allow the connection of additional solar photovoltaic capacities.
A methodological approach developed for this purpose was tested in remote communities of mountainous Greece, where an earth-fill dam provides irrigation water. The results showed a significant increase in renewables’ penetration and enhanced communities’ electricity autarky. This approach demonstrates how existing water infrastructure — originally built for non-energy purposes — can be repurposed to generate clean electricity for remote settlements.
In the municipality of Grevena, at the foothills of Mount Lyngos, a Small Hydroelectric Power Plant with a capacity of 1.64 MW was constructed between 2021 and 2023, utilizing the water potential of the Potamia stream. With a budget of €1,900,000, this project exemplifies how even modest hydro developments can bring renewable energy to remote mountainous regions.
Policy Support for Remote Area Micro Hydropower
The Greek government has progressively recognized the importance of micro hydropower for remote and isolated communities. A key regulatory development has been the classification of micro-hydroelectric plants up to 1 MW installed on water supply, irrigation, or drainage networks as exempt units under Greek legislation. This exemption streamlines the licensing process for projects that are particularly relevant to remote areas, where such water infrastructure is common.
In 2025, the Ministry of Environment and Energy began considering exemptions for small hydroelectric units from mandatory production curtailments. The ministry has made it clear that it is moving toward a solution aimed at protecting small hydroelectric units — a significant development for remote communities that depend on these installations for reliable power.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the General Secretariat for the Aegean and Island Policy have progressed in implementing water adequacy and desalination projects with an emphasis on the most remote and small islands. These initiatives, part of the Special Action Plan for Water Scarcity for 2025, create opportunities for integrating micro hydropower into broader water–energy solutions for island communities.
Challenges and Environmental Considerations
Despite its promise, micro hydropower development in remote areas faces significant challenges. The construction of small hydropower plants in environmentally sensitive areas has sparked controversy. In the Northern Pindos National Park, a proposed Small Hydropower Plant in the stream “Yotsa” drew criticism for potential destruction of protected habitats and Natura 2000 sites. Similarly, a ministerial decision has prohibited the construction of dams and hydropower plants of all categories in the section of the cross-border Aoos River designated as Protected Landscape.