The Voice of Renewables has been following the development of hydrogen space in Greece since the launch of National Hydrogen Strategy launched in the early 2020s. Back then it was only focused on pilot projects and infrastructure development. Now, with Greece’s landmark hydrogen law (Law 5215/2025) approved, we are looking at what it says, why it matters, and what comes next.
Greece has published its first dedicated hydrogen law — Law 5215/2025 (FEK A’ 116/04.07.2025) — creating a licensing, certification and support framework for green and low-carbon hydrogen. This article explains the key rules (Hydrogen Producer Certificate, Guarantees of Origin, geographically-confined hydrogen networks), EU alignment, investment implications and next steps for developers and investors.
Quick summary
On 4 July 2025 Greece published Law 5215/2025 (FEK A’ 116/04.07.2025) — the country’s first comprehensive legal framework for biomethane and hydrogen. The law introduces a streamlined licensing route (the Hydrogen Producer Certificate – HPC), a national Guarantee of Origin system for hydrogen, rules for geographically-confined hydrogen networks (GCHN), and partial transposition of EU rules on renewable gases and hydrogen certification. The regime is designed to accelerate green hydrogen production, facilitate investment and align Greek practice with EU law — while secondary technical rules and implementation details will follow.
What the law covers — the essentials
1. Hydrogen Producer Certificate (HPC)
The HPC is the first mandatory step for any hydrogen production unit: applicants must secure an HPC before constructing production facilities.
The HPC is issued through the competent regulator’s digital platform and — under the new rules — is valid for 25 years and renewable once for the same duration. Timelines for public consultation and issuance are specified so the process is predictable for investors.
2. Certification and Guarantees of Origin (GoO)
The law integrates the EU certification approach: hydrogen can be certified as renewable (commonly “green hydrogen”) under EU criteria (additionality, temporal and geographic correlation) when electricity is grid-sourced, or more simply when the renewable electricity source is expressly identified. Certification is central for market access, subsidies and cross-border trade.
3. Geographically-Confined Hydrogen Networks (GCHN)
The law creates a new licensing category for GCHN — hydrogen networks that serve a limited area (e.g., industrial zones). GCHNs have a simplified regulatory treatment and may be eligible for state support when they serve public interest objectives.
4. Support, incentives and State aid compliance Law 5215/2025 provides the legal basis for state support to certified hydrogen projects (investment or operational aid), subject to EU State Aid rules and approval. It also creates a framework to route national and EU funds (e.g., Recovery & Resilience Facility, Hydrogen Bank) to large or strategic projects.
How the law aligns with EU rules
Law 5215/2025 partially transposes Directive (EU) 2024/1788 on renewable gas and hydrogen markets and incorporates elements of the EU Delegated Regulation on renewable hydrogen certification (Reg. 2023/1184). This alignment ensures that Greek hydrogen certificates, GoOs and market rules are compatible with EU trading and subsidy regimes — a key factor for cross-border off-take and export plans.
Practical implications for developers and investors
- Faster project permitting path: the HPC creates a single entry point and predictable timelines; developers should prepare full technical, spatial and environmental documentation at application.
- Certainty for green premiums and offtake contracts: with a national GoO system and EU-aligned certification, hydrogen producers can better price renewable hydrogen into long-term contracts.
- Access to funding: certification will be a precondition for many public support schemes; large projects may qualify for competitive public funding or hydrogen bank mechanisms.
- Local industrial hubs: GCHNs lower barriers to clustered industrial decarbonisation by allowing simplified networks inside industrial parks or ports.
Environmental and permitting notes (real projects)
Greek Environment & Energy Ministry has already been active approving environmental terms for major electrolyser projects (for example, environmental terms for a 100 MW electrolytic plant were approved for a Hellenic Hydrogen project), showing that regulatory authorities are moving in parallel with the new legal framework to allow projects to progress. Developers must still complete environmental licensing and other national permits after HPC issuance.
Open questions and next steps
- Secondary legislation & technical standards: the law sets core rules, but implementation will rely on secondary acts (technical specifications, tariffs, grid-access rules) that RAAEY and other agencies must issue. Investors should track secondary regulations closely.
- State aid approvals: public support measures for hydrogen projects will require EU approval under state aid frameworks; proceeds and incentives may depend on those decisions.
- Market structure & export strategy: Greece aims to position as a regional hydrogen exporter — but success depends on complementary infrastructure (ports, pipelines, terminal capacity) and international offtake agreements.
Recommended actions for stakeholders
- Developers: prepare HPC applications with fully documented electricity sourcing (plant ID or grid profile), environmental impact materials and realistic construction timelines.
- Investors / financiers: require proof of certification paths (GoOs), and factor into financial models the timing of secondary regulations and state aid approvals.
- Industrial clusters / ports: evaluate the GCHN option to supply decarbonised hydrogen locally and engage early with RAAEY and local authorities.
Closing
Greece’s Law 5215/2025 is a decisive step that creates legal clarity for green hydrogen in Greece and links domestic practice to the EU certification regime — essential signals for companies planning investment, developing electrolyser projects, or negotiating long-term hydrogen offtake agreements. If you’re a developer, investor or local authority seeking to act now, prepare an HPC-ready dossier, review electricity sourcing options for certification, and follow secondary legislation from RAAEY and the Ministry closely. The era of hydrogen projects bankability in Greece finally beginns.
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