During this year Greek electricity transmission system operator ADMIE plans to accelerate the process of withdrawal of lignite-fired thermal units.
This is mainly due to the fact that the operation of these units is financially unfeasible as a result of elevated production costs due to increasing CO2 emission costs. Megalopoli III has already been withdrawn in March, even though without ADMIE’s approval over concerns about the network’s stability in summer, but now ADMIE has streamlined units at Agios Dimitrios, Meliti and Megalopoli IV to be withdrawn by the end of August. Initially, these units were planned to be withdrawn during 2022.
The withdrawal of high-polluting lignite units will be followed by an introduction of some new generation capacities into the system. During 2022, Mytilineos’ gas-fired units should be commissions, while in 2023, the commissioning of Ptolemaida V is expected, which will be lignite-fired at first, but will be converted to natural gas by 2026.
State-controlled Public Power Corporation (PPC) is also expanding its hydropower portfolio, with the commissioning of HPP Metsovitiko (29 MW) expected in 2025, HPP Mesohora (160 MW) in 2026 and HPP Avlaki (83 MW) in 2028.
