Under its revised National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), the Greek Ministry of Energy and Environment has carved out the largest power generation target for solar PV technology, aiming to grow the cumulative to 14.1 GW by 2030 and 34.5 GW by 2050, up from 4.8 GW it had installed at the end of 2022.
More than 28 GW cumulative renewables capacity is aimed for by 2030 under the new plan, including 2.7 GW offshore wind, 7.1 GW onshore wind, 4.0 GW hydro power and remaining 800 MW to come from other renewables.
By 2050, the aggregate renewables target is to reach over 65 GW out of 75 GW total net power generation capacity. By the time, offshore wind is aimed to increase its total capacity to a total of 17.3 GW, while onshore wind will account for 10.5 GW, hydro power 4.7 GW and other renewables representing 2.8 GW.
In terms of power generation capacity, solar will account for close to 20 TWh by 2030 and 56.5 TWh by 2050.
The updated ESEK is designed to replace its 2019 NECP under which Greece was aiming for 7.7 GW solar capacity by 2030 out of 19 GW total renewables capacity. It plans to submit the final document, post considering feedback to the public consultation of the same, to the European Commission (EC) by April 2023.
Energy storage finds prominent space in the revised plans with the government aiming for 5.6 GW battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity by 2030, taking it to 23.3 GW by 2050. Even hydropumping is incorporated to have 2.5 GW and 5.2 GW cumulative capacity by 2030 and 2050, respectively.
Realizing the importance of green hydrogen in decarbonizing overall economy and the export potential it offers, Greece is eying 1.2 GW electrolyzer capacity, to be expanded to 14.7 GW by 2050, probably going by the amount of interest it is generating (see Greek Proposal For 9.5 GW Wind & Solar In Egypt).
Local energy news portal Energypress that shared the presentation of Energy Minister Kostas Skrekas and quoted him as saying the updated NECP targets 80% of electricity to come from renewables in 2030, and their share in the gross final energy consumption is aimed at 45%.
The minister said the main goal behind revising the NECP is to wean the country from fossil fuel imports and improving the quality of life of its citizens.
Skrekas added, "The new proposed ESEK is structured in a way that gives surplus value to the Greek economy and domestic added value, creates new jobs while, with the transformation of the energy sector, we will achieve competitive energy prices for all consumers."
Local solar PV association HELAPCO, in SolarPower Europe's EU Market Outlook for Solar Power 2022-2028, anticipated the revised PV targets under NECP to be below the true potential of the market as it believes it can go up to 16.3 GW by 2030. However, major bottleneck remains grid capacity (see European Union To Exit 2022 With Over 41 GW Solar Installed).