Greece has achieved a significant milestone, ranking second globally in electricity production from photovoltaics, according to the latest annual report from climate think tank Ember. In 2023, photovoltaics contributed 19% of Greece’s electricity, following only Chile. The report highlights Greece’s strong performance, placing it fourth in per capita photovoltaic energy production at 899 kilowatt-hours per year, with Australia leading at 1,810 kWh, followed by the Netherlands at 1,208 kWh and Spain at 949 kWh. Notably, Greece has also reduced its CO2 emissions by 57% since 2007, thanks to a combination of economic factors, a shift toward renewable energy, and decreased lignite usage.
Interestingly, Greece ranks first globally in photovoltaic production among countries with typical sunlight conditions, excluding those with extreme sunlight like Australia and Chile. However, the Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Energy Producers (SPEF) has criticized the revised National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), currently under public consultation. Chairman Stelios Loumakis urged the government to halt new photovoltaic licenses, stating that the new plan seeks to mask a problematic situation of excessive development driven by overly generous licensing policies.
In a letter to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy, SPEF warned that the overheating of the solar market could lead to increasing curtailments for investors in the coming years. Currently, Greece has about 14 GW of renewable electricity plants in operation, with an additional 15 GW already secured connection terms and 2.4 GW prioritized for industrial power purchase agreements (PPAs). SPEF projects that photovoltaics could reach 19 GW by 2030, up from nearly 11 GW today, while the country’s total installed renewable capacity is expected to grow from 21.7 GW to 34.5 GW by the decade’s end.
Despite these optimistic projections, SPEF anticipates that curtailments could exceed 25% by 2030, even if all storage targets are met under the NECP. Photovoltaics, which rely on sunlight during the day, face higher curtailment risks than other renewable technologies. Additionally, planned interconnections with North Africa and the Middle East could exacerbate these challenges by introducing cheap electricity into the market. “The state needs to confront the technical realities, free from political embellishment,” Loumakis emphasized.
