Record low emissions for Greece’s electricity sector in the first half of 2026 (6.95 million tons), due to the interconnection of Crete. The sector’s carbon intensity was also at record low levels both in June 2026 (183.1 g CO2/kWh), and in the first half of 2026 (217.8 CO2/kWh) due to record production from renewables and large hydro, as well as reduced oil use in Crete. Despite the progress, Greece is off track to achieve its NECP commitments due to the maintenance of high fossil gas use.
According to the latest available electricity production data (June 2026 for both the interconnected grid and the non-interconnected islands) and those of annual CO2 emissions from the ETS (2025), monthly emissions are estimated (for the Greek electricity generation units participating in the ETS), following the methodology and assumptions presented here.
Total sectoral emissions
In June 2026, CO2 emissions from fossil-fuel power plants marginally exceeded 1 million tons (1.02 million tons), a rise of 2.8% compared to May.
Cumulatively for the first half of the year, 2026 emissions reached 6.95 million tons and a historic low, down 8.5% compared to the first half of 2025. As lignite and fossil gas-fired power generation remained practically at the same levels compared to the first half of 2025, this reduction in sectoral emissions is primarily due to the limitation of the use of oil-fired plants in the islands as a result of the completion of the Crete interconnection at the end of the previous year.
Carbon intensity of the electricity sector
In addition to the decline in sectoral emissions, total electricity generation increased substantially in every month of 2026 compared with the corresponding month of 2025, reaching a cumulative increase of 14.8% during the first half of the year. Because this additional generation was met entirely by record-high output from renewables and large hydro, the sector’s carbon intensity declined markedly.
More specifically, the sector’s carbon intensity reached historic lows both in June (183.1 g CO₂/kWh) and on average during the first half of 2026 (217.8 g CO₂/kWh). Compared with May 2026, carbon intensity declined by 6%, while it was 16% lower than in June 2025. Overall, the average carbon intensity during the first half of 2026 was 18.8% lower than in the corresponding period of 2025.
This performance could have been even stronger if renewable energy curtailments had been reduced. According to IPTO’s daily ISP2 and ISP3 forecasts, renewable energy curtailments reached 1,601 GWh during the first half of 2026, equivalent to 9.6% of total renewable electricity generation. Had this otherwise curtailed energy been stored in batteries and subsequently used to displace electricity generation from fossil gas and lignite, the average carbon intensity of the sector during the first half of the year would have fallen to 192.7 g CO₂/kWh—11.5% lower than the observed value.
Emissions per fuel
Fossil gas remained the largest source of emissions in the power sector, accounting for 58.6% of the total. Gas-fired power plants emitted 4.07 million tonnes of CO₂ during the first half of 2026. Although these emissions were 3% lower than in the corresponding period of 2025, they remained the second highest on record after those of the first half of 2025.
Lignite-fired power plants emitted 2.01 million tonnes of CO₂ during the first half of 2026, representing 28.9% of the sector’s total emissions. This was only marginally higher than the historic low recorded in the first half of 2025 (1.97 million tonnes). Since lignite-fired electricity generation remained almost unchanged compared with 2025, the slight increase in emissions can be attributed to the greater reliance on the more carbon-intensive Agios Dimitrios Power Plant relative to the more efficient Ptolemaida V Power Plant during the first half of 2026.
Finally, oil-fired generation on the non-interconnected islands emitted 0.67 million tonnes of CO₂ during the first half of 2026, accounting for 9.7% of total sectoral emissions. This represents a 46.4% reduction compared with the same period in 2025 and the lowest level on record, primarily as a result of the electrical interconnection of Crete.
Emissions per thermal power plant
The lignite-fired Agios Dimitrios power plant remained the largest emitter during the first half of 2026, despite being permanently retired on 15 May. It emitted 1.58 million tonnes of CO₂, accounting for 22.7% of the power sector’s total emissions.
The second-largest emitter was the Agios Nikolaos II Power Plant fossil gas power plant, with emissions of 0.68 million tonnes of CO₂, followed by Megalopolis V Power Plant with 0.60 million tonnes. The top five was completed by the Komotini fossil gas plant (0.54 million tonnes) and the Ptolemaida V lignite-fired plant (0.43 million tonnes).
Following the interconnection of Crete, the five largest emitters among the non-interconnected islands during the first half of 2026 were the power stations of Rhodes, North Rhodes, Thira, Kos and Lesvos. Their respective emissions amounted to 0.126, 0.090, 0.095, 0.074 and 0.072 million tonnes of CO₂.
Comparison with NECP
Despite the progress achieved during the first half of 2026, the power sector’s continued reliance on fossil gas is putting Greece off track to meet the emissions targets set out in the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP).
According to the final revised NECP, greenhouse gas emissions from the power generation sector should not have exceeded 10.2 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2025 and should be limited to 4.0 million tonnes by 2030. Assuming a linear reduction in emissions over this period, the sector’s carbon budget for 2026 is estimated at 8.96 million tonnes of CO₂.
During the first half of 2026, the power sector is estimated to have emitted 6.95 million tonnes of CO₂, equivalent to 77.6% of its annual carbon budget. As a result, only 2.01 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions remain available for the rest of the year if Greece is to stay within its 2026 carbon budget and remain on track to meet its NECP commitments.
You can see the evolution of emissions in the electricity sector from 2013 to date and read the analyses of previous months here.
