The period of concern for electricity demand management due to low loads and increased RES production for the relevant departments ends, however, management is starting to worry about the high demand traditionally experienced during the summer months with rising temperatures and the use of air conditioners.

Administrators, ADMIE and DEDDIE will have to ensure over the summer that the system has the necessary sufficiency to meet demand so that there is no need to reduce consumption and we do not have local or even general outages. However, they seem to be more optimistic than other summers. In fact, this is “the first summer in many years when we are optimistic”, as characteristically stated in “K” by the competent officials of ADMIE.

The first reason is that the system will operate from July with a 1,500 MW airbag as testing is completed and the new Mytilineos natural gas plant in Boeotia (826 MW) and new lignite are expected to enter commercial operation. checkpoint block “Ptolemaida V” (660 MW). The second reason is that, compared to last year, an additional 1000 MW of renewable energy capacity has been added to the system, and the third reason is that the water reserves in the reservoirs of the CEC hydroelectric units, which constitute a large reserve for summer consumption, have been exhausted. at a satisfactory level. Although they are down 6-7% from last year, ADMIE reports they are considered sufficient and they say they are pleased that, at least for now, there are no drought problems that we see in other European countries. countries. even in neighboring Italy. In addition, lignite reserves are sufficient for the operation of PPC’s lignite units.

A possible increase in electricity prices in neighboring countries due to problems that a drought in the production of nuclear and hydroelectric power plants could cause is of concern to ADMIE, as this could divert domestic production to export. However, in his assessment, the Greek system is very well protected this year to cope and function without problems even in such a situation. “The combination of a heavy workload with a large amount of exports makes it difficult to manage, but we hope we can manage,” a senior ADMIE representative told K.

The authorities responsible for the management of the electrical system hope that they will have the same favorable weather in the summer as they did last winter. They hope that forecasts of very high temperatures, which will lead to cost overruns due to the constant use of air conditioners, do not come true. What worries them most about this development is the lack of electricity in the summer, which they consider guaranteed under all scenarios. They estimate that supply issues are likely to carry over into the winter due to depletion of water and lignite supplies and possible new LNG market stress, which could be driven by increased demand from China or replacement due to drought. production of nuclear and hydroelectric power in Europe at natural gas plants.

The effects of a dangerous drought, according to the Copernicus International Drought Observatory of the European Emergency System, are already visible in France, Spain and northern Italy, and there are serious concerns about water supply, agricultural production and electricity generation. According to the latest report (March 2023), unusually high temperatures and warm weather patterns that prevailed in winter signal a prolonged drought in the coming months in southern and western Europe if there is no rain in the spring. Countries with drought and high seasonal temperatures, based on a special Copernican index, include southern Spain, France, Ireland, Great Britain, northern Italy, Switzerland, most of the Mediterranean islands, areas of Romania and Bulgaria in the Black Sea. and Greece. It also indicates that the water level as a result of alpine snowmelt is at a much lower level than in the winter of 2021-2022, which leads to low water in the rivers of the perialpine zone in spring and early summer.

Demand on the islands

Demand for electricity increases during the summer months due to tourism, which will happen again this year and even stronger, according to estimates from DEDDIE, which is responsible for managing the unconnected electrical system. DEDDIE has informed the RAE of the projected power shortages in Samos, Chios, Thira, Rhodes, Lesbos and Megisti (Kastelorizo), and the RAE has approved the lease of power generating pairs from PPC to cover it from 1 July to 31 August. Samos will be boosted with an additional 12 MW, Chios 25 MW, Thira 20 MW, Rhodes 18 MW, Lesvos 14 and Megisti 0.15 MW.

This is the first summer that the Crete system will not require additional capacity, which was handed over to ADMIE after the connection to the Peloponnese was completed. While demand is expected to increase, joining the Peloponnese has streamlined the operation of the PPC blocks, which remain in place until the completion of joining Crete and can provide the necessary support, ADMIE explained.