Should Greece invest in energy storage facilities?

Currently there is a growing interest for investments in storage facilities in Greece. Licensed projects mostly consist of Li-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS), either stand-alone or integrated in PVs, as well as PHS facilities .

Why is Greece focusing on energy storage?

Greece has been actively focusing on energy storage since the emergence of the RES “boom” in 2020. The country recognised the pivotal role of energy storage in the energy transition and emphasised its importance in the first iteration of the country’s National Energy and Climate Plan in 2019.

How does storage work on Greece's islands?

The introduction and development of storage on Greece’s islands that are that are not connected to the mainland power system is quite different, as it is currently only possible via hybrid stations (i.e. virtual production stations consisting of renewable energy resources and storage units operating as single distribution entities).

How many storage plants are there in Greece?

Currently there are four (4) storage plants operating in Greece, two open-loop pumped-hydro storage (PHS) stations in the mainland (700 ΜW in total) and two small hybrid RES-storage stations in non-interconnected islands (just 3 MW).

How is storage developing in Greece?

The development of storage in Greece has only just begun: this year has been the big "kick-start" and there is now a common understanding of the needs and requirements and the steps to be taken to ensure an adequate identification and prioritization of all necessary actions.

Will Greece install 900 MW of storage by 2030?

According to the Greek National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), the nation aims to install 4.3 GW of storage by 2030. Thus far, 900 MW has been allocated via the Greek Regulatory Authority for Energy, Waste, and Water (RAAEY) tenders. Therefore, the remaining share would be delivered under the new plan but without any subsidy support.