The carbon intensity of electricity generation reached a historic low in May 2026 (200 g CO2/kWh), as it also did for 2026 as a whole (227 g CO2/kWh), thanks to record-breaking generation from renewables and hydropower during the first five months. Without the significant curtailments of renewables during this period (1.3 TWh), the average carbon intensity would have been 14.2% lower and below 200 g CO2/kWh. The Agios Dimitrios lignite-fired power plant emitted 0.11 million metric tons during its final month of operation and 1.58 million metric tons over the five-month period, remaining the top polluter.

Renewables ranked first in electricity generation and reached a 9-month high in May with 2,573 GWh, despite significant curtailments (418 GWh, or 14% of RES generation) and the comparatively higher absorption by the first batteries (9.5 GWh, accounting for just 2.2% of RES curtailments). In addition, there was an increase in production from fossil gas and lignite compared to the previous month, resulting in the average monthly price on the day-ahead market remaining the same as in April at 89 €/MWh. Cumulatively, the first five months of 2026 saw record levels for both RES generation (11,930 GWh) and RES curtailments (1.3 TWh), as well as for net exports (4,484 GWh).