New IPTO study to dismiss grid adequacy, flexibility concerns

Greece’s grid will not face any capacity adequacy problems until no earlier than 2021 or 2022, while its degree of flexibility, based on hydropower stations and natural gas-fueled power stations, is considered satisfactory, a new and almost-finalized study by IPTO, the power grid operator, is expected to conclude, energypress sources have informed.

These views run contrary to those presented in a previous study released by IPTO early in 2014, as well as to the conclusions of an ensuing study delivered by ENTSO-E, the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity.

The operator’s previous study, published in January, 2014, warned the Greek grid faces an imminent capacity adequacy problem, while also noting new dangers had emerged that would affect stability and electricity supply reliability. It noted the Greek grid would start facing serious capacity adequacy problems as of 2018, requiring electricity imports to cover peak-hour demand levels.

The ENTSO-E study, published three months later, in April, 2014, noted that a capacity adequacy problem in Greece would surface earlier, in 2016, not 2018, as predicted by the previous IPTO study. It also rejected claims that Greece possesses excess electricity as a result of reduced demand amid the recession, while noting the country would face an electricity deficit between 2016 and 2020.

Installed capacity in Greece amounts to 17,400 MW should main power utility PPC’s lignited-fired stations, hydropower stations, fuel and natural gas-run stations, as well as the privately run power stations all be added up.

According to the ENTSO-E study, just 10,000 MW to 11,000 MW of this 17,400 MW in installed capacity total is readily available if stations undergoing maintenance work, renewable energy source (RES) units, hydropower stations, and units out of order as a result of damages, are taken into account. The study noted that gas-fueled power stations are the most flexible and productive, adding that five privately run such units offering a total capacity of 2,000 MW were added to the system over the past five years following investments worth 1.5 billion euros.