ATHENS – The demand for electricity this winter will be met after the measures taken in relation to energy sufficiency, the second vice president of RAE and president of the Crisis Management Group, Dimitris Fourlaris, said speaking at an event on “Energy Sufficiency in Electricity & Natural Gas – Consumer Supply Security” organised by the International University of Greece.

Even in the case of an interruption of the Russian natural gas supply, it is technically possible to meet the demand (both for natural gas and for electricity generation), he said, but in this scenario a question arises as to the possibility of fully meeting demand from Bulgaria. Following the interruption of the supply from Russia, the neighbouring country depends on natural gas exports via Greece.

According to the data presented by the vice president of RAE, peak demand in severely cold conditions this winter is expected to range between 8600 and 9200 megawatts (last winter it reached 8600 megawatts).

The measures that have been decided in order to ensure the country’s energy sufficiency are the increase of lignite production, the provision of an alternative fuel (diesel) for the five natural gas units in the country that have the ability to operate with oil, as well as the provision of natural gas storage. Renewable energy sources have a lower participation during the evening hours, which is when peak demand occurs in the winter (due to lack of sunshine).

Fourlaris explained that there is no justification for fears that have been expressed about the possibility of a shortage if there are not sufficient quantities of lignite and water combined with increased exports, because under these conditions the price of electricity in the Greek market will be higher, so there will be no possibility of exports.