A 35,000-acre Greek wildfire triggers a nationwide review of wind farms

A fire that burned through 35,000 acres, ignited by a private overhead power line, has led Greek prosecutors to arrest three people and order a sweeping inspection of every comparable site in the country.

The disaster in western Attica was traced to the private grid of a wind station whose construction was completed only in May 2026. The fire department’s official assessment puts the ignition at a medium-voltage overhead line connecting the site to the main grid; of the line’s 42 kilometres, four ran above ground, Balkan Green Energy News reports.

Three people were detained: the contracting company’s owner, its technical director, and the wind station’s owner. Prosecutors have ordered an in-depth review of every wind plant in Greece to check licensing, installation, maintenance and operational safety.

The event turned into a hard regulatory trigger, setting a precedent in which the whole sector faces licensing scrutiny over the actions of individual contractors. If the review uncovers widespread safety breaches, the industry risks further constraints, so far discussed only as a possibility. The government has already drafted a spatial plan barring turbines above 1,200 metres, which could slow renewable development in the region.

Source: Balkan Green Energy News