Preliminary moves explored for energy storage system development

The Greek government is exploring preliminary moves to start developing energy storage systems in Greece, well behind in this domain compared to other countries, where such units are already being installed, both at commercial and household levels.

According to market officials contacted by energypress, the prospect of energy storage development is expected to prove a major challenge for Greece as a result of the local energy market’s particularities. More specifically, these officials believe that the local market’s lack of electricity price fluctuations does not provide the appropriate conditions that would guarantee returns on energy storage investments.

Asked about the issue at an Athens Energy Forum event held Wednesday and Thursday, Nikos Hatziargyriou, the chief official at DEDDIE, the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator, noted that energy storage units represent an efficient solution for the islands, as they may contribute to local energy sufficiency.

The head official at DEDDIE, locally acronymed HEDNO, also said new guidelines set by the European Commission permit operators to stage related tenders in order to determine whether investor interest exists. If a lack of private-sector investor interest is confirmed through such a procedure, operators, if they wish, may proceed and invest themselves, Hatziargyriou explained.

The DEDDIE official explained that the issue needs to be worked on in collaboration with RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, so that an appropriate regulatory framework may be established.

Energypress sources contended that an energy storage market could theoretically be developed in the household sector to utilize daytime and nighttime electricity tariff differences. Such an investment, in a Tesla type battery, for example, could be recovered in 7 to 8 years, the sources contended.