Nikos Mantzaris, co-founder and Lead Policy Analyst at The Green Tank, spoke on SKAI Radio’s programme Defterες Skepseis on Sunday, 11 October 2026, with hosts Petros Kirkilis and Isaak Triantafyllidis. The discussion focused on electricity prices, the contribution of renewable energy sources (RES) and the need to accelerate energy storage deployment.
Despite the growing share of electricity generated from renewables, expensive fossil gas continues to account for a significant proportion of Greece’s power generation, influencing electricity prices, particularly in the evening. As Nikos Mantzaris explained, rising gas prices amid the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz have increased electricity generation costs. Nevertheless, the benefits of renewables remain substantial: without their contribution, electricity prices would be much higher.
Energy storage can play a crucial role in reducing reliance on fossil gas. Batteries allow surplus solar power generated during midday hours to be stored and used in the evening, when demand increases. As Nikos Mantzaris noted, Bulgaria’s experience, where battery storage capacity has expanded much more rapidly, shows that faster deployment is both feasible and economically beneficial.. In Greece, by contrast, lengthy permitting procedures continue to delay investment. Creating the right conditions for faster private investment in storage is therefore essential, alongside the necessary expansion and reinforcement of electricity grids.
The discussion also covered electricity tariffs, with Nikos Mantzaris highlighting how their complexity makes it difficult for consumers to identify the option that best meets their needs. While the Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy and Water (RAAEY) has developed the energycost.gr platform to help consumers compare tariffs, further public information campaigns are needed to help them make informed choices. Finally, when asked whether changes were needed to the operation of the wholesale electricity market, he noted that there is scope to improve the existing system by making use of current EU legislation. However, the most important step towards lowering electricity prices is to reduce the use of gas for power generation.
Listen to the discussion [in Greek] on SKAI Radio’s Defteres Skepseis programme and on our YouTube channel.
