Greece and coal
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Greece is a mid-size producer and consumer of coal, mining 27.3 million tonnes in 2019.[1]
Coal Resources
According to the Ministry of Development’s Energy Outlook of Greece total ‘remaining exploitable deposits’ of lignite in 2008 were 3,020 million tonnes. Apart from a very small amount of private mining, all production is carried out by the mining division of the Public Power Corporation (DEI).[2]
Resource Details
| Category | Reserve Classification | Quantity | Units | Data Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGR Estimate | Reserves | 2,876[1] | million tonnes | 2019 |
| BGR Estimate | Resources | 3,554[1] | million tonnes | 2019 |
| Geological Survey | Reserves | 4,500[3] | million tonnes | 2012 |
| Geological Survey | Resources | 6,700[3] | million tonnes | 2012 |
| Commercial Reserves | Reserves | million tonnes | ||
| Commercial Resources | Resources | million tonnes |
Coal Production
Greece is the second largest producer of lignite in the European Union after Germany, and most electricity is produced from lignite,[4] which supplies a third of Greece's energy.[5] The largest domestic coal producer is the government-owned Public Power Corporation (PPC). Most hard coal is imported from Russia.[6]
Western Macedonia is currently a "Coal Region in Transition" under the EU phase out plan.[7]
Coal Consumption
Power Generation
22% of electricity was generated from lignite in 2015.[8] PPC is attempting to sell 40% of its coal-fired capacity by 2019.[9]
Proposed Coal-Fired Power Stations
- PPC is reported to have decided to invest approximately €1.5 billion[10] in the new lignite-fired unit 5 of Ptolemaida power station, and finance for this is being provided from Germany.
- Shenhua Group has agreed to upgrade lignite units.[11]
Legal Action
In September 2017 the permitting process was challenged.[12]
Air Pollution
All lignite units that will operate in 2021 (including the not yet completed Ptolemais 5) will have to upgrade to comply with the EU Best Available Techniques manual (LCP BREF), which sets new, stricter emissions limits.[8]
Subsidies
In 2013 the government spent 150 million euros subsidizing coal.[13]
EU coal phase out
Like all EU members, Greece has a legally-binding clean energy target. Greece is aiming for 18 percent of energy consumption to be from renewables by 2020.[14] EU policy makers and electricity companies consider investing in coal not to make any business sense compared to investing in renewable energy in Greece.[10]
Solar
The government is tendering for more solar.[14]
Wind
The government is tendering for more wind.[14]
Articles and Resources
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 BGR Energy Study 2019 - Data and Developments in German and Global Energy Supplies (23), 200 p, Hannover, Germany
- ↑ Energy Resources: Coal, World Energy Council, Country Notes, 2013.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ananias Tsirambides and Anestis Filippidis, Energy Mineral Resources of Greece,Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering, B1 (2012): 709-719.
- ↑ Energy Information Administration, "PPC > Company profile > Activity Sectors > Mines", Public Power Corporation, undated, accessed May 2018.
- ↑ "Why Greece Has Been Slow To Embrace Clean Energy", NPR, 30 July 2017
- ↑ "Greece - Energy System Overview", IEA, accessed June 2018
- ↑ "Coal Regions in Transition Platform", European Commission, 4 June 2018
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 LONG TERM PLAN FOR THE GREEK ENERGY SYSTEM, WWF, October 2017
- ↑ Public Power postpones board meeting on units sale after worker occupation", Reuters, 3 May 2018
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Greece criticised for lacking modern energy plan to ditch coal", EURACTIV, 29 May 2018
- ↑ "Energy", Enterprise Greece, accessed June 2018
- ↑ "ClientEarth challenges Greece’s untouchable coal power permits", Client Earth, 14 Sept 2017.
- ↑ "Cutting Europe’s lifelines to coal: Tracking subsidies in 10 countries", ODI, 2017
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Greece Kicks Off $3.6 Billion Program for Solar, Wind Projects", Bloomberg, 30 April 2018
Related GEM.wiki articles
- Europe and coal
- Bulgaria and coal
- Germany and coal
- Italy and coal
- Poland and coal
- Slovakia and coal
- Turkey and coal
External Articles
- "South East Europe Electricity Roadmap - SEERMAP", Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), accessed June 2018
- International Energy Agency, "Coal in Greece in 2005", International Energy Agency website, accessed July 2008.
- International Energy Agency, "Greece", International Energy Agency website, accessed July 2008.
- International Energy Agency, Energy Policies of IEA Countries: Greece: 2006 Review, 2006. (Pdf)
- U.S. Geological Survey, Europe and Central Eurasia 1995-2005
- European Environment Agency, European Pollutant Emission Register. (This has a list of power stations and their current emissions).
