Over the past 12 months, covering the period from August 2024 to July 2025, Greece's electricity consumption has been almost evenly split between low-carbon and fossil energy sources. Low-carbon sources, which include solar, wind, and hydropower, account for a little over half of the electricity, at approximately 51%. Solar power is a major contributor among the low-carbon sources, providing a quarter of the electricity. Wind energy is close behind, supplying almost a fifth, and hydropower contributes a modest 6%. Fossil fuel consumption, predominantly from gas, makes up the remaining 49% of Greece's electricity, with gas alone accounting for nearly 43%, and coal contributing just over 6%.
Is Electricity Growing in Greece?
Despite the need for growth in clean electricity, Greece's overall electricity consumption per person has stagnated. The recent figures, at 5092 kWh/person, remain significantly lower, by about 1169 kWh/person, than the historic peak recorded in 2008. In terms of low-carbon electricity generation, the numbers are also disheartening. From the past year, there has been a decline to 2598 kWh/person from the previous record of 2800 kWh/person set in 2024, marking a drop of 202 kWh/person. This decline emphasizes the need for urgent action to enhance low-carbon energy sources to keep pace with growing energy demands driven by electrification.
Suggestions
To boost low-carbon electricity generation in Greece, expanding existing solar and wind infrastructure is crucial due to their significant contributions to the current energy mix. Furthermore, Greece can learn from regions that have successfully integrated various low-carbon solutions, including nuclear power. For instance, Iowa and South Dakota have achieved impressive electricity generation from wind, at rates of 62% and 60% respectively. Simultaneously, countries like France and Slovakia demonstrate the potential of nuclear power, which accounts for 69% and 64% of their electricity generation. Incorporating lessons from these regions, Greece can strengthen its solar and wind sectors and explore nuclear energy as a reliable and sustainable option for future growth.
History
Historically, Greece has seen fluctuations in low-carbon electricity generation, particularly from hydropower. The early 2000s experienced a significant rise, with hydropower's contribution increasing by 1.9 TWh in 2003. However, the subsequent years showed volatility, such as a notable decrease of 3.1 TWh in 2007 followed by smaller yet impactful variances in subsequent years. Additionally, the period between 2013 and 2024 marked a significant shift with substantial increases in solar power, peaking with a remarkable 3.4 TWh gain in 2024. Wind energy also saw considerable growth in the early 2020s, although it experienced a slight setback in 2025, with a decrease of 2.4 TWh. This history underscores the importance of consistent investments and strategic expansion to secure a stable and cleaner energy future.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.