*2.1. Current Power System Situation in Greece*

The annual electricity demand in the Interconnected System of Greece, with reference year 2019, was 52.17 TWh. The total nominal capacity of conventional plants was 8806 MW (December 2019), comprising 3904 MW of lignite power plants and 4902 MW of natural gas [24]. Conventional power plants possess a significant share of electricity production which reaches approximately 51% on the annual electricity production (2019). Wind installations represent a capacity of 3283 MW, while the capacity of photovoltaics including roof-top PVs reaches 2639 MW [25]. Both technologies contributed in 2019 with 14% of generated power [24]. Moreover, the nominal capacity of large and small hydroelectric power plants was 3411 MW, biomass units accounted for 87 MW, while Combined Heat and Power (CHP) 105.47 MW [25]. During 2019, the interconnections balance, i.e., net imports, contributed to the 19% of electricity consumption in Greece. Overall, lignite units are gradually being phased out, while the share of electricity produced by natural gas and lignite power plants combined has been reduced compared to past years. Renewable sources have a smaller share in the energy mix, increased compared to the past, and will further increase in the future [25].
