In the first two months of 2026, the power generation sector emitted 2.89 million tons, a 17.2% decrease compared to the same period in 2025, though higher than in 2024 and 2023. Gas-fired power plants were responsible for more than half of overall emissions (1.49 million tons), while the lignite plant of Ag. Dimitrios was the top polluter with 0.8 million tons. The carbon intensity of electricity production stood at 246.2 g CO2/kWh.
Monthly emissions from each power plant in Greece (that is subject to ETS reporting) are estimated based on the latest available electricity production data (February 2026 for the interconnected network and December 2025 for the non-interconnected islands) and the annual CO2 emissions from ETS (2024), following the methodology and assumptions presented here.
Carbon intensity of electricity production
In February 2026, the carbon intensity of electricity production continued the downward trend that began at the start of the year, reaching 223.9 g CO2/kWh—a five-month low. Thus, carbon intensity was down 15.6% compared to January and 34.2% compared to February of last year, due to increased renewable energy production, which limited the use of lignite and natural gas.
For the first two months of 2026, carbon intensity stood at 246.2 g CO2/kWh, an improvement of 6.8% compared to the average carbon intensity of 2025.
RES curtailments in February are estimated at 208 GWh based on IPTO’s ISP forecasts, reaching unprecedented levels for this time of the year. In comparison, in the previous two years, February RES curtailments were below 5 GWh. Thus, for the first two months of 2026, RES curtailments totaled 214 GWh. If this curtailed energy had been used to limit electricity generation from lignite and gas, the carbon intensity of electricity production would have been 229.5 g CO2/kWh, a 6.8% reduction compared to the actual figure.
Emissions per fuel
CO2 emissions from power plants using fossil fuels reached 1.21 million tons in February, down 27.9% from January, marking the lowest February emissions in at least the last decade.
Cumulatively for the first two months of 2026, emissions reached 2.89 million tons, down 17.2% compared to the same period in 2025, but higher than emissions for the first two months of 2024 and 2023.
Emissions from gas-fired power plants for the first two months reached 1.49 million tons, down 18% from last year, while accounting for 51.6% of the total. However, in February, emissions from gas-fired power plants hit a nine-month low at 0.59 million tons.
Emissions from lignite-fired power plants for the first two months of 2026 reached 0.9 million tons, down 27.5% compared to 2025 and the lowest for this time of the year in at least the last decade.
Finally, oil-fired power plants on non-interconnected islands are estimated to have emitted 0.42 million tons in the first two months, representing a 15.4% increase compared to 2025.
Regarding the share of each fuel in total emissions, fossil gas accounted for 51.6%, lignite for 31.1%, and oil for 14.4% of the total.
Emissions per thermal power plant
In terms of the breakdown of emissions by power plant, the lignite power plant of Agios Dimitrios ranked first among polluters for the first two months of 2026 with 0.8 million tons, accounting for 89.2% of emissions from lignite-fired units. In February, two of the five units at the power plant (III and V) were in operation, with a total output of 234.5 GWh.
In second place was Agios Nikolaos II, which operates on fossil gas and had emissions of 0.27 million tons. Rounding out the top five polluters for the first two months of 2026 were three gas-fired units: Megalopolis V (0.21 million tons), the Lavrio IV-V power plant (0.16 million tons), and Thermoilektriki Komotinis (0.15 million tons).
The Ptolemaida 5 lignite-fired power plant was not in operation in February, therefore its emissions for this period of the year were limited to those recorded in January (0.097 million tons).
On the non-interconnected islands, the five largest polluters were two stations in Crete, the stations on Rhodes and the station on Kos. Specifically for the stations in Crete, Atherinolakkos had emissions of 0.128 million tons and Linoperamata 0.075 million tons. On the island of Rhodes, the Rhodes station had emissions of 0.03 million tons, while the N. Rhodes station had emissions of 0.027 million tons. Finally, the station on the island of Kos had emissions of 0.022 million tons.
Sectoral emissions – comparison with NECP
In the final revised National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) submitted to the European Commission in December 2024, emissions from the sector for 2025 should not have exceeded 10.2 million tons, while for 2030 they should not exceed 4 million tons. Assuming a linear reduction in emissions between 2025 and 2030, it follows that the carbon budget for the power sector for 2026 should not exceed 9 million tons.
So far in 2026, emissions from the sector are estimated at 2.89 million tons, or 32.3% of the annual carbon budget for the year. Therefore, in the first six months of the year, the power generation sector has already emitted 1/3 of the carbon budget for 2026. According to the above projection, 6.07 million tons remain until the end of the year.
You can explore how electricity sector emissions evolved since 2013, as well as find analyses from previous months here.
