Last year marked a turning point for the Greek electricity market, as renewables accounted for the largest share of the domestic energy mix for the first time – 41.6 percent, according to transmission operator ADMIE. Renewable sources pushed gas to second place, with a 38 percent share – gas recorded a decline in its share of total electricity production by slightly more than 4 percentage points compared to 2021.
December was the sixth consecutive month in which a decline in demand was recorded, by 13.6 percent on an annual basis.
According to ADMIE data, 2022 was the first year in which most of the electricity produced in Greece came from green power plants.
Historically speaking, fossil fuels have always had the largest contribution to the production of electricity – until 2021, the leading source was natural gas, which previously took that position from lignite.
In 2022, there was a reversal again, considering that RES achieved a 41.6 percent share, with a production of 19.7 TWh.
The production of gas power plants in 2022 reached 17.9 TWh. Lignite was in third place with 5.6 TWh, followed by hydropower with 8.5 percent participation and 4 TWh produced.
RES and hydroelectric power plants on a 50.1 percent share
The record production of RES made it possible for most of the kilowatt-hours produced last year in Greece to have a zero carbon footprint – the share of renewable energy sources and hydropower reached a total of 50.1 percent, slightly exceeding the share of all fossil fuels, which amounted to 49.9 percent.
Compared to 2021, gas-based production has decreased by more than 4 percentage points, from 42.8 percent in 2021. This is good news from the point of view of achieving the European goal of reducing gas consumption by 15 percent. This is a goal that all member countries have undertaken on a voluntary basis for the current winter season.
In 2021, renewable sources took second place with a share of 35.3 percent, while lignite accounted for around 11 percent of the domestic energy mix. The share of hydropower plants was also around 11 percent.
A new drop in demand for electricity
ADMIE data show that in December, a significant drop in demand for electricity was recorded, by 13.6 percent compared to December 2021.
Electricity consumption in Greece has been continuously falling since July 2022.
The biggest drop in demand in December was realized in the distribution network – which means that it was again due to a decrease in consumption by households and small and medium-sized enterprises. Efforts to reduce energy costs contributed to this, as well as relatively high outside temperatures in December.
