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Domestic fossil gas consumption rebounded in October (4.86 TWh), despite rising prices. Consumption over the first ten months of the year recorded its third-highest level ever (54.8 TWh), with a sharp decline in industry (-16.8%) and a smaller drop in power generation (-4.3%), while distribution networks saw an increase of 5.9%, reaching a historic high of 10.8 TWh. LNG was the leading source of imports (32.5 TWh). Despite exports almost tripling compared to 2025 (15.3 vs. 5.7 TWh), Greece's fossil gas import bill for the first eight months of 2026 approached €2 billion.

Reversal of the upward trend in emissions in September, with 1.06 million tonnes (-22.7% compared to August), mainly driven by reduced fossil gas consumption. Cumulative emissions since the beginning of 2026 reached 10.66 million tonnes, exceeding the carbon budget set by the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) for the entire year by 1.7 million tonnes (+19%). Two lignite-fired power plants (Agios Dimitrios & Ptolemaida 5) topped the list of largest emitters over the first nine months of 2026.

In the first 9 months of 2026, the gap between electricity generation from clean energy sources and fossil fuels widened further, reaching 8.8 TWh. However, September saw the highest monthly average electricity price since January 2023, at €156.3/MWh, driven by a rise in TTF prices to their highest level in the past 3.5 years. Batteries prevented 19.3% of September's renewable energy curtailments, which totalled 158.2 GWh for the month. Nevertheless, cumulative curtailments since the beginning of the year surpassed the 2 TWh threshold, reaching 2,063 GWh.

Plans to explore for and potentially extract fossil gas south of the Peloponnese and Crete pose risks to vulnerable marine mammals, while also raising questions about Greece’s climate commitments and the potential economic benefits. In an article published by nd-aktuell.de, Nikos Mantzaris, co-founder and lead policy analyst at The Green Tank, explains why developing new fossil gas deposits could undermine Greece’s path towards climate neutrality.

Speaking during a news bulletin on ERT News on 19/10/2026, Nikos Mantzaris, co-founder and lead policy analyst at The Green Tank, discussed rising energy costs and the need for immediate, targeted measures that address the root causes of the problem.

On Synora, a programme hosted by Kalli Zarali on ERT3, Nikos Mantzaris, lead policy analyst and co-founder of The Green Tank, highlighted delays in the development of energy storage in Greece, comparing the country’s progress with that of Bulgaria.

In this issue, we explore the challenges and choices shaping the transition to a sustainable future. From electricity prices, renewables and fossil gas to nature conservation, marine ecosystems and the future of lignite regions, we look at the developments shaping the energy transition and the path towards a fairer, more sustainable future.

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.

The role of self-generation and Energy Communities in reducing energy costs, as well as the barriers that continue to hinder their development, was discussed by Nikos Mantzaris, Policy Analyst and co-founder of The Green Tank, in interviews with Naftemporiki TV and NewsOnline.

Integrating blue carbon ecosystems into National Nature Restoration Plans, improving their monitoring and strengthening policy coordination are key to ensuring their effective restoration. This is highlighted in a new policy brief by the JPI Oceans Blue Carbon Knowledge Hub, to which The Green Tank contributed.

Europe aims to end all Russian gas imports by November 2027. Greece aspires to play a central role in this effort, becoming a gateway for US liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Southeastern and Central Europe through the Vertical Corridor. But how much of this new infrastructure is actually needed, and what will it cost consumers? These questions were explored in two German media reports by Jasper Riemann featuring Nikos Mantzaris, Policy Analyst Lead and co-founder of The Green Tank.

More than 50 companies, business associations and civil society organisations, including The Green Tank, have co-signed a joint letter calling on EU Member States to implement ETS2 in 2028, as agreed, without further delay. The Green Tank has signed the letter both as an organisation and as part of the LIFE Effect consortium.

Against the backdrop of the debate over the Vertical Corridor and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Athens, Nikos Mantzaris, Head of Policy Analysis and co-founder of The Green Tank, spoke to Stavros Apostolidis on Status Radio 94.2 on the need for new LNG infrastructure in Greece and the outlook for fossil gas demand in the nine countries of the Vertical Corridor.

Why does electricity remain expensive despite the growing share of renewable energy? Nikos Mantzaris, Lead Policy Analyst and co-founder of The Green Tank, spoke with Niki Bakouli on Pop Science, News 24/7’s podcast about the factors shaping electricity prices and ways to reduce energy costs for consumers.