A schedule detailing the withdrawal of power utility PPC’s lignite-fired power stations, a gradual process planned to start at the end of this year and conclude in late 2028, has been presented by a special committee tasked with shaping the country’s new National Energy and Climate Plan.

The committee, recently expanded, held its inaugural session at the energy ministry late last week and delivered a withdrawal plan as an initial proposal not yet endorsed.

Ptolemaida V, PPC’s much-touted new lignite-fired power station, still under construction, will enter the system in 2022 and produce until 2028, according to the committee proposal. Ptolemaida V could then take on some sort of back-up role beyond 2028, as a converted gas-fueled unit.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced a plan to decarbonize Greece by 2028.

Kardia I and II, each offering a capacity of 275 MW, will be the first units to be withdrawn, at the end of this year, according to the committee’s proposed schedule. From there on, the withdrawal plan is: Amynteo I and II, each 273 MW, at the end of 2020; Kardia III and IV (280 MW each) at the end of 2021; Megalopoli III (255 MW) at the end of 2022; Agios Dimitrios I and II (274 MW each), at the end of 2023; Agios Dimitrios III and IV (283 MW) at the end of 2025; Agios Dimitrios V (342 MW), end of 2027; Meliti I (289 MW) and Megalopoli IV (256 MW) end of 2028.

Besides gas-fueled electricity generation, hydropower units are also expected to play a pivotal role by 2030. CO2 emission right costs are forecast to skyrocket 124 percent over the next decade.

Greece’s current hydropower capacity is 3,320 MW. New units totaling 189 MW are planned to be added to the system in 2021, while further additions, totaling 763.6, could be introduced from 2025 onward.