PPC power demand coverage down to 36.8%, lignite savings

Power utility PPC’s lignite-fired electricity production plunged 70 percent in the second quarter of 2020, its generation covered just 36.8 percent of overall electricity demand in the first half, while the corporation’s retail electricity market share has contracted to 69.9 percent, first-half company results have shown.

These shifts highlight the major changes occurring in Greece’s energy market – in terms of energy mix and retail competition.

PPC’s retail electricity market share drop to 69.9 percent followed a 77 percent share reported for the equivalent period a year earlier.

Electricity demand fell just 1.7 percent in the first quarter before sliding 12.7 percent in the second quarter, the PPC results showed.

A significant part of the corporation’s recurring EBITDA figure of 457.3 million euros reported for the first half was attributed to the utility’s diminished reliance on lignite-fired generation, until recently Greece’s dominant energy source. PPC’s lignite units have been kept shut or used minimally, saving the corporation from losses.

However, this is one side of the story for PPC. The company’s reduced reliance on lignite may be saving the power utility considerable amounts, but its coverage of overall electricity demand has dropped to 36.8 percent in the first half, from 46.9 percent in the first half last year. Gas-fired and hydropower generation have been low.

This downward slide at PPC is expected to continue until the corporation’s green energy output rises to between 2,000 and 3,000 MW, a level that would take the company into a new era. A period of at least two to three years will be needed before this can be achieved.

The pandemic and its downward pressure on energy price levels has helped PPC. Company outlays for fuels, natural gas, CO2 emission rights and electricity purchases fell by 33.7 percent, or 561.3 million euros, in the first half, compared to the equivalent period a year earlier.

PPC saved 95 million euros on fuel costs, 110.2 million euros on natural gas costs, approximately 80 million euros on CO2 emission rights, and 260.2 million euros on electricity purchases, the first half results showed.

Energy products may rebound in the second half, meaning PPC has no other choice but to accelerate its foray into the RES sector.

Despite the encouraging first-half results, there is no room for complacency, PPC’s chief executive Giorgos Stassis stressed.