Greece recorded last year a new record in photovoltaic (PV) installations but despite this significant growth, Greece anticipates grid congestions in the near future, according to Stelios Psomas, Policy Advisor at HELAPCO, the Hellenic Association of PV.
“There are not enough grids. These grids have been developed in previous times when there was no need for such big networks. Very soon most of the grids in Greece will be congested”, he added, at the round table “Regional Approach Athens – Cooperation”, organized by Energynomics.
The PV market in Greece can manage annual investments of around one billion euros, making it a major contributor to the country’s economy and job market. PV installations have created an estimated 60,000 full-time equivalent jobs, solidifying the industry’s position as the largest employer within the green energy sector in Greece.
The rapid growth of the PV market in Greece can be attributed to simplified legislation and the declining cost of PV modules over the past few years. In 2023, Greece added a record 1.6 GW of new PV plants to its energy infrastructure, marking a significant milestone for the country’s renewable energy transition.
However, the unprecedented growth in PV installations has exposed the limitations of Greece’s grid infrastructure. Psomas noted that existing grids were developed during a time when demand was lower, leading to impending grid congestions across the country.
To address grid capacity challenges, Greece is exploring the development of storage systems, with plans to allocate 1,000 MW of capacity for stand-alone batteries. Successful projects are expected to be completed and operational by the end of 2025, with the first two tenders already selecting over 700 MW of battery capacity. Additionally, the Greek government intends to expand the capacity of auctioned stand-alone projects to 1.5-1.7 GW.
Also, Greece aims to significantly increase its battery storage capacity, with projections indicating 3.1 GW installed by 2030 and substantial growth thereafter. “But the battery market can be twice as that”, Psomas added.
DDOWNLOAD THE PRESENTATION OF STELIOS PSOMAS
In parallel, Greece has introduced a new support scheme for customer-sited solar and storage systems, offering public funds to households and farmers for the purchase and installation of small solar and storage systems. This initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of solar PV and storage technologies while enhancing energy resilience at the local level.
The working table “Regional Approach Athens – Cooperation” was organized by Energynomics with the support of our partners: Elektra Renewable Support, Kawasaki Gas Turbine Europe GmbH, Parapet GmbH, TUV Nord, WALDEVAR Energy.