The energy crisis from the Middle East conflict is restoring lignite in Greece’s energy balance for 2027. The issue of the last remaining lignite unit, Ptolemaida 5, in the electricity system for energy security reasons, was reopened after the intervention of grid administrator ADMIE.
The administrator for the security of the country’s electricity system sent a confidential letter to the Energy Ministry, energy regulator RAAEY and the Public Power Corporation just before Easter, analyzing why Ptolemaida 5 should remain available in operation at least until the end of 2027.
The withdrawal of the unit in September, as planned by PPC, is assessed by ADMIE as a high risk for the country’s secure supply of electricity in the new winter season.
As Kathimerini has learned, ADMIE considers the unit necessary, not only because of the current energy crisis and its pressure on the supply of fuel for electricity generation, but also because of the provisions of the National Energy and Climate Plan (NESEK). According to the NESEK, Ptolemaida 5 remains in the system as a lignite unit until 2028 and is then withdrawn to reoperate after 2030 as a natural gas unit. Its withdrawal in 2028 was considered so as not to disrupt the smooth supply of electricity to the country; by that time the new Alexandroupoli unit (capacity 840 MW), planned for 2027, will have joined the grid, as well as a satisfactory number of storage units.
The limited number of storage projects built so far and those that will be built by September, when PPC has scheduled to withdraw Ptolemaida 5, do not guarantee, according to ADMIE, Greece’s electricity sufficiency in the winter period when demand rises due to heating. In addition, a year of testing is required for the integration and operation of the storage units in the system.
Therefore, ADMIE believes Ptolemaida 5 should remain in the system at least until the end of next winter, regardless of the current energy crisis. Otherwise, the country’s sufficiency will depend on imports.