In 2024, Greece's electricity consumption is roughly split between fossil fuels and low-carbon sources. Fossil energy, led predominantly by gas, accounts for just over half of the electricity produced, with coal making a much smaller contribution. On the cleaner side, low-carbon energy closely trails behind, constituting a little less than half of the electricity mix. This segment is mainly powered by wind and solar, each contributing to over a fifth of the total electricity, showcasing their significance in the country's green energy efforts. Other sources, such as hydropower and biofuels, contribute smaller shares to the clean energy generation in Greece.
Is Electricity Growing in Greece?
Despite a decrease in overall electricity consumption since 2008, where the per capita consumption peaked, Greece has shown impressive progress in augmenting its low-carbon electricity generation. The total consumption stands at 5633 kWh per person, marking a reduction from its 2008 peak. However, the promising shift is evident in the low-carbon sector, which surged to 2800 kWh per person in 2024 from last year's figure, indicating robust growth in clean electricity. This is a significant stride against the backdrop of total consumption decline, reflecting Greece's successful transition towards sustainable energy sources and a cleaner electricity mix.
Suggestions
To further increase its low-carbon electricity generation, Greece can capitalize on expanding their current wind and solar capabilities. Observing regions like Denmark and states like Iowa, which extensively utilize wind power, offers Greece a roadmap to boosting its clean electricity portfolio. Additionally, Greece can draw inspiration from countries heavily reliant on nuclear energy, such as Slovakia, which generates more than 60% of its electricity from nuclear plants. Learning from these examples, Greece could explore nuclear power as a means to achieve a more stable and substantial low-carbon output. Such a diversified strategy would not only help Greece reduce reliance on fossil fuels, mitigating issues like climate change and air pollution, but also secure a sustainable and resilient electricity future.
History
Historically, Greece’s low-carbon electricity landscape has witnessed various fluctuations. In the early 2000s, hydropower electricity generation saw several highs and lows, with notable declines in 2001 and 2007, and increases in 2003, 2009, and 2010. A significant transition occurred in 2013 with a considerable boost in solar electricity, which continued to advance, particularly evident in 2024. The last few years show steady growth in wind energy as well, with a marked contribution in 2020 and again in 2024. This history of lows and highs in hydropower coupled with ongoing solar and wind advancements highlights the urgent need for Greece to sustain its momentum in low-carbon electricity generation, and potentially consider more resilient sources like nuclear power to support a robust clean energy transformation.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.