Should Greece invest in energy storage facilities?

Currently there is a growing interest for investments in storage facilities in Greece. Licensed projects mostly consist of Li-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS), either stand-alone or integrated in PVs, as well as PHS facilities .

How does storage work on Greece's islands?

The introduction and development of storage on Greece’s islands that are that are not connected to the mainland power system is quite different, as it is currently only possible via hybrid stations (i.e. virtual production stations consisting of renewable energy resources and storage units operating as single distribution entities).

Does Greece have a battery storage pipeline?

Greece has emerged as one of the countries with the largest pipeline of battery storage projects, but as yet there has been little activity on the ground. This is changing as the long-awaited storage subsidy auctions have started, with the first projects being awarded support for both investment and operating costs.

Why does Greece need gas storage?

The need for storage in Greece will accelerate rapidly over the next decade as renewables targets are revised upwards and coal plants are closed. The pivot to gas, a core part of the country’s energy strategy just a couple of years ago, has been upended by the disruption to supplies and price volatility caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

How many storage plants are there in Greece?

Currently there are four (4) storage plants operating in Greece, two open-loop pumped-hydro storage (PHS) stations in the mainland (700 ΜW in total) and two small hybrid RES-storage stations in non-interconnected islands (just 3 MW).

How long should energy storage be in a Greek power system?

Considering the energy arbitrage and flexibility needs of the Greek power system, a mix of short (~2 MWh/MW) and longer (>6 MWh/MW) duration storages has been identified as optimal. In the short run, storage is primarily needed for balancing services and to a smaller degree for limited energy arbitrage.