Along with mercury levels, electricity demand is also on the rise, putting the power grid to the test. Although supply appears to be sufficient for now, the balance remains delicate, with the risk of unexpected outages that could suddenly change the situation. 

Already, the Transmission System Operator’s forecasts for tomorrow indicate record demand for this summer.
 
CHARIS ZAVALLIS—Assistant Director, EKEE – TSO “We estimate
that demand at noon will be around 1,230 MW. As for tonight, our forecast is that we’ll be around 1,000 MW. This is the highest figure forecast so far this summer. We have 1,219 MW of available capacity from conventional power plants. So you shouldn’t expect any problems meeting demand tomorrow either. We can even compensate for the loss of a large power plant in Vasiliko.” 

The first major stress test for the system is expected in the middle of next week, when temperatures are set to climb even higher.

CHARIS ZAVALLIS – Assistant Director, EKEE – DSMC “I expect
we’ll approach the 2024 peak around Wednesday or Thursday. We have 1,219 MW; we have conventional generation, and we may also have wind power.”

The record demand recorded on July 22, 2024, was 1,294 megawatts.

Given these figures, the meeting scheduled for next Wednesday at the Presidential Palace is considered crucial, which will focus on the issues of supply adequacy and cost raised by the four EAC unions, which had given officials a 15-day deadline to come back with concrete solutions.

KYRIAKOS TAFOUNAS—President of EPOPAI
: “We cannot spend decades investing in the arrival of natural gas, the electricity interconnection, or even batteries and storage, which can at best contribute minimally to security of supply. There are things that must be done immediately, because the supply problem will worsen in the coming years, peaking in 2029 when we will face a serious shortfall of around 800 megawatts in generation from conventional plants.”.

The outcome of the meeting will determine whether the unions will reinstate the measures they had announced, which would most likely lead to power cuts.

See the report by Rafaella Stavrinou:

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