Solar power shutdowns in Greece begin to take effect

The Greek transmission system operator said it had to shut down electricity imports from neighboring countries from May 3-7 to ensure the safe operation of the Greek power grid. Specifically, this meant that no electricity was imported from Italy, Albania, northern Macedonia, and Turkey during this period. As for the electricity interconnection with Bulgaria, no electricity imports were allowed between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on these days, and maximum limits were set at other times.

Separately, according to market sources, on May 5 the Commission disconnected the entire renewable energy park connected to transmission lines for a few hours. It also asked the Greek distribution operator to disconnect another 1 GW of solar plants from the grid. The reason was the very low demand for electricity during the Orthodox Easter on May 5. The reduction in renewable electricity generation was also very high for the rest of the Easter vacation, which lasted from May 3 to 7. However, the cuts during the Easter vacations did not come as a surprise.

In April, Pantelis Biskas, a professor at Greece's Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, warned at the annual meeting of the Thessaloniki-based Pospief Solar Power Producers Association that cuts would increase significantly over Easter and from September to November. Biskas told investors that the IPTO plans to cut 220 GWh of renewable energy for the period from March 1 to April 13, which corresponds to about 4 percent of national green electricity production during this period. This level of reduction may seem small to some, but for Greek PV producers it stands in stark contrast to previous years. In 2023, for example, curtailments totaling about 228 GWh were made in Greece. Even more worrying was Biskas' prediction that the reduction in renewable energy production in Greece could reach 15 percent of the country's electricity production in 2030.

Participants at the Pospief meeting also expressed concern about the different reduction methods used by Greek transmission and distribution system operators. The transmission system operator is able to vary the amount of solar energy fed into the grid, while the distribution system operator does not follow the same scheme. It either allows solar farms to be connected to the grid or blocks them completely from the distribution grid. Since many solar projects are directly connected to the distribution grid, a large number of solar investors are affected by this behavior. However, this problem will soon be solved. A new law voted by the Greek parliament at the end of April requires all renewable energy installations above 400 kW to install technical equipment that varies the feed-in to the distribution grid.

Addressing the Challenges with Innovative Solutions

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Furthermore, the integration of solar energy storage solutions provided by Ace Battery can play a significant role in stabilizing the grid. Our solar energy products are engineered to ensure efficient energy generation and distribution, supporting grid operators in maintaining balance and avoiding the sudden disconnection of solar farms.

The recent legislative changes in Greece mandating technical equipment for renewable installations above 400 kW align with the solutions offered by Ace Battery. Our C&I ESS technical equipment includes advanced tools for varying feed-in to the distribution grid, which is essential for compliance with new regulations and for optimizing the integration of renewable energy into the national grid.

Additionally, the conversation at the Pospief meeting highlighted the importance of Commercial & Industrial Energy Storage. While the Greek government has made strides by introducing a framework for subsidized storage systems, there is a growing call for the inclusion of behind-the-meter energy storage solutions. Ace Battery supports this call and offers robust energy storage solutions like the C&I-EnerCube that can participate in the balancing services market, providing a business case for private investment and contributing to overall grid stability.