Diesel-fueled power facilities on interconnected islands to go

Power utility PPC’s old diesel-fueled power facilities generating electricity on the Cyclades until this group of islands was interconnected with the mainland grid via subsea cable will soon be completely withdrawn, the current status of these facilities, as back-up units, deemed costly and unnecessary by RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy.

No changes will be made this coming summer but the withdrawal of the units, as back-up systems, is expected as of next year, once certain legal and administrative issues are settled.

The interconnecting subsea cables, inflowing and outflowing and offering the Cyclades islands electricity input from two sides, have rendered the back-up units unnecessary as this back-up service is provided by the cables themselves, according to RAE sources.

Islands in the wider region still being supplied electricity through just one subsea cable continue to require back-up, but this service does not need to be provided by the high-cost diesel power units, RAE believes.

RAE has not approved a related proposal submitted by power utility PPC, firstly because of their high cost, and secondly, as compensation of the units, for their strategic back-up services, would need the European Commission’s approval.

Instead, RAE appears to favor a solution entailing the use of portable generators that could be transferred from one island to another, wherever and whenever needed. These generators would be leased by the distribution network operator DEDDIE/HEDNO, a PPC subsidiary, while their cost would be incorporated into the operator’s operating expenses.

Meanwhile, RAE’s board is soon expected to approve a PPC lease plan for generators offering 58 MW, to be installed on Crete as back-up for the busier summer months of July and August.