Limited impact on grid expected from PPC strike action

Strike action organized by the main power utility PPC union Genop to protest parliament’s discussion of a draft bill concerning a bailout-required sale of lignite units is planned to begin late Sunday night.

PPC workers are determined to make consumers more aware of the sale plan, representing 40 percent of the utility’s lignite capacity, the union has announced.

Given the grid’s picture for today, all of PPC units would need to be withdrawn and nightime wind energy supply, when photovoltaics are not producing, must be insufficient, if an electricity shortage is to be prompted by the strike action.

Judging by today’s electricity plan, any problems that may arise in coming days will be limited and will concern evening peak hours between 8 and 11 pm.

According to today’s day-ahead market plan, total electricity demand amounts to 127,619 MWh, of which 50,600 MWh will be provided by thermal units. The rest of the demand will be covered by imports, renewable energy sources and hydropower units.

Slightly over half the aforementioned thermal supply, or nearly 33,000 MWh, will be provided by PPC units – three Agios Dimtrios units, two Kardia units, one Megalopoli unit, one Amynteo unit and one Aliveri unit.

Facilities operated by independent producers will contribute approximately 18,000 MWh.

Imports of up to 1,700 MW, depending on the System Marginal Price (SMP), could stem from Italy. Hydrpower facilities may provide between 1,000 and 1,500 MW. Renewable energy source input, when photovoltaic facilities are connected to the grid, can exceed 2,000 MW.

IPTO, the power grid operator, will be responsible for deciding whether supply shortages exist. If so, the operator will ask HEDNO/DEDDIE, the electricity distribution network operator, to proceed with supply cuts.