energy in Greece
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{{See also|List of power stations in Greece}}
File:Hellenic Petroleum distillation facility.png]]{{Update|date=February 2022}}
Energy in Greece is dominated by fossil gas and oil.{{Cite web |title=Energy consumption by source |url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/energy-consumption-by-source-and-country |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=Our World in Data}} Electricity generation is dominated by the one third state owned Public Power Corporation (known mostly by its acronym ΔΕΗ, or in English DEI). In 2009 DEI supplied for 85.6% of all electric energy demand in Greece,{{cite web |url=http://www.dei.gr/Images/ENG%20REPORT%202010%20FINAL.pdf |title=Public Power Corporation S.A. Financial Report (January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010) |year=2010 |publisher=Public Power Corporation of Greece |access-date=24 October 2011}} while the number fell to 77.3% in 2010. Almost half (48%) of DEI's power output in 2010 was generated using lignite. 12% of Greece's electricity comes from hydroelectric power plants{{cite web |url=http://www.investingreece.gov.gr/default.asp?pid=36§orID=38&la=1 |title=Energy |publisher=Invest in Greece Agency |access-date=26 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820004239/http://www.investingreece.gov.gr/default.asp?pid=36§orID=38&la=1 |archive-date=20 August 2011 |url-status=dead }} and another 20% from natural gas. Between 2009 and 2010, independent companies' energy production increased by 56%, from 2,709 Gigawatt hour in 2009 to 4,232 GWh in 2010.
In line with the European Commission's Directive on Renewable Energy, Greece aims to get 18% of its overall energy from renewable sources by 2020.{{cite web |url=http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/targets_en.htm |title=Renewable energy >> Targets by 2020 |publisher=Eurostat |access-date=24 October 2011}}{{Update inline|date=February 2025}}In 2015, according to the independent power transmission operator in Greece (ΑΔΜΗΕ) more than 20% of the electricity in Greece was produced from renewable energy sources and hydroelectric powerplants. This percentage in April reached 50%.{{Cite web |url=http://www.admie.gr/fileadmin/groups/EDRETH/Monthly_Energy_Reports/Energy_Report_201512_v1.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-12-07 |archive-date=2016-01-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126131600/http://www.admie.gr/fileadmin/groups/EDRETH/Monthly_Energy_Reports/Energy_Report_201512_v1.pdf |url-status=dead }} The same trend was the case also for 2016.{{Cite web |url=http://www.admie.gr/fileadmin/groups/EDRETH/Monthly_Energy_Reports/Energy_Report_201611_v1.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-12-22 |archive-date=2017-07-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726160918/http://www.admie.gr/fileadmin/groups/EDRETH/Monthly_Energy_Reports/Energy_Report_201611_v1.pdf |url-status=dead }}
The contribution of non-hydroelectric renewable energy sources (RES) to the gross final electricity consumption accounted for 24.5% in 2016,{{cite web|title=Greece Energy Situation|url=https://energypedia.info/wiki/Greece_Energy_Situation|website=energypedia.info/|publisher=energypedia|access-date=2 May 2018|ref=Introduction}} while hydroelectric power represented approximately 25% by installed capacity. According to the Greek Electricity Market Operator (LAGIE), the total installed capacity in the Greek interconnected system at the end of 2016 accounted for almost 16,615 MW, including 3,912 MW lignite, 4,658 MW natural gas, 3,173 MW large hydro-power and 4,873 MW RES.
Greece currently does not have any nuclear power plants in operation, however in 2009 the Academy of Athens suggested that research in the possibility of Greek nuclear power plants begin.{{cite web|url=http://www.academyofathens.gr/Documents/christoforou_porismata.pdf |title=Πορίσματα της Ομάδας Εργασίας της Επιτροπής Ενέργειας της Ακαδημίας Αθηνών επί του θέματος "Πυρηνική Ενέργεια και Ενεργειακές Ανάγκες της Ελλάδος" |publisher=Academy of Athens |access-date=24 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122125502/http://www.academyofathens.gr/Documents/christoforou_porismata.pdf |archive-date=22 November 2011 }}
As of the 2023 International Energy Agency (IEA) report, Greece has made notable strides in reducing its reliance on lignite for electricity generation. The report highlights a decrease in lignite usage from 60% in 2005 to 10% by 2021. This transition forms a key part of Greece's strategy under the National Energy and Climate Plan and the National Climate Law, aiming for a 55% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and an 80% reduction by 2040. The shift away from lignite is complemented by increased generation from natural gas and renewables like wind and solar photovoltaics, aligning with the country's net-zero emissions goal by 2050.{{Cite web |title=Executive summary – Greece 2023 – Analysis |url=https://www.iea.org/reports/greece-2023/executive-summary |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}
Fossil fuel
= Oil and gas =
File:Dromos panaxaiko.jpg mountain.]]
Greece has 10 million barrels of proved oil reserves as of 1 January 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/greece/ |title=The World Factbook – Greece |publisher=CIA |access-date=18 October 2011}} Hellenic Petroleum is the country's largest oil company, followed by Motor Oil Hellas. Greece's oil production stands at 7,946 barrels per day (bbl/d), ranked 90th, while it exports 1,863 bbl/d (57th) and imports 496,600 bbl/d (25th).
In 2011 the Greek government approved the start of oil exploration and drilling in three locations within Greece,{{cite web |url=http://www.investingreece.gov.gr/default.asp?pid=25&la=1&n=1024 |title=Green Light for Hydrocarbon Exploration |publisher=Invest in Greece Agency |access-date=26 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025083755/http://www.investingreece.gov.gr/default.asp?pid=25&la=1&n=1024 |archive-date=25 October 2011 |url-status=dead }} with an estimated output of 250 to 300 million barrels over the next 15 to 20 years. The estimated output in Euros of the three deposits is €25 billion over a 15-year period, of which €13–€14 billion will enter state coffers. Greece's dispute with Turkey over the Aegean poses substantial obstacles to oil exploration in the Aegean Sea.
In addition to the above, Greece is also to start oil and gas exploration in other locations in the Ionian Sea as well as the Libyan Sea, within the Greek exclusive economic zone, south of Crete.{{cite web |url=http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/190770/mesa-stin-anoixi-oi-seismikes-ereunes-se-ionio-kai-n-kriti-gia-udrogonanthrakes-/ |title=Μέσα στην άνοιξη οι σεισμικές έρευνες σε Ιόνιο και Ν. Κρήτη για υδρογονάνθρακες |date=3 January 2012 |trans-title=(Oil and gas) exploration in the Ionian Sea and Crete to start this spring |publisher=Skai TV |access-date=6 March 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://www.skai.gr/news/greece/article/196297/endiaferon-etaireion-gia-udrogonanthrakes-se-ionio-kriti/ |title=Ενδιαφέρον ξένων εταιρειών για υδρογονάνθρακες σε Ιόνιο – Κρήτη |date=2 March 2012 |trans-title=Interest from foreign companies for hydrocarbon exploration in the Ionian Sea and Crete |publisher=Skai TV |access-date=6 March 2012}} The Ministry of the Environment, Energy and Climate Change announced that there was interest from various countries (including Norway and the United States) in exploration, and the first results regarding the amount of oil and gas in these locations are expected in the summer of 2012.
Gas pipelines include the Gas Interconnector Greece–Bulgaria and the Turkey–Greece pipeline which is a {{convert|296|km|mi|0}} long natural gas pipeline, which connects Turkish and Greek gas grids completed in 2007.{{Cite book |last=Forum |first=International Transport |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=C-_saXSePq0C&pg=PA92 |title=Intermodal Transport National Peer Review: Turkey: National Peer Review: Turkey |date=2009-04-01 |publisher=OECD Publishing |isbn=978-92-821-0223-7 |page=92 |language=en |quote=The total length of the 36” pipeline is 296 km, 211 km of the pipeline is the Turkish Section and 85 km is the Greek Section.}}
=Coal=
Megalopoli Mine is a large lignite and coal mine owned by the Public Power Corporation of Greece. The largest lignite and coal mine in Greece are in the area of Western Macedonia and especially in Ptolemaida. Greece plans to shut down the last coal fired power plant in the country by 2026.{{Cite web|last1=Simon|first1=Frédéric|last2=Karaoulanis|first2=Theodore|date=2021-04-26|title=Greece confirms last coal plant will be shut in 2025|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/climate-environment/news/greece-confirms-last-coal-plant-will-be-shut-in-2025/|access-date=2021-05-08|website=www.euractiv.com|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Aposporis |first=Harry |date=2024-07-30 |title=Greece pushes its coal exit target date forward to 2026 |url=https://balkangreenenergynews.com/ppc-pushes-its-coal-exit-target-date-forward-to-2026/ |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=Balkan Green Energy News |language=en-US}}
Renewable energy
{{Excerpt|Renewable energy in Greece}}
= Biomass =
== Regulation Background ==
EU Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC requires the EU to fulfill at least 20% of its total energy needs with renewable by 2020. This should be achieved through the attainment of individual national targets.{{Cite web|url = http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32009L0028|title = Directive 2009/28/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources and amending and subsequently repealing Directives 2001/77/EC and 2003/30/EC (Text with EEA relevance)|access-date = 13 January 2016|website = European Union}} EU Commission allocates biomass as the third source of energy within EU after wind.{{Cite web|url = http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2011:0031:FIN:EN:PDF|title = Renewable Energy: Progressing towards the 2020 target|access-date = 13 January 2016|website = European Commission}} Greek State allocated 350 MW of electricity to biomass - bio-fuels{{Cite web|url = http://www.ypeka.gr/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=LL1y8Dbh344%3D&tabid=555&language=el-GR|title = ΥΑ "A.Y./Φ1/οικ.19598"|date = 1 October 2010|website = YPEKA|publisher = Greek Ministry of Energy and Environment}}
== Greek Situation Analysis ==
- Currently <50 MW of biomass - bio-fuels to energy are operating in Greece (Out of 350 MW).
- Feed in tariff (FIT) is 198 €/MW h.
- 20-year contract with an extension option at the end.
- There is a quite long licensing process.{{Cite web|url = http://www.buildeco.eu|title = Biomass Situation Analysis in Greece|date = 2015|access-date = 13 January 2016|website = Buildeco}}
= Wind =
File:Greece - Wind Energy Capacity (MW).svg
File:EU Average and Greece Wind Energy Capacity (MW).png
= Solar =
{{Excerpt|Solar power in Greece}}
See also
{{Commons category|Energy in Greece}}