Climate & Energy

Ioanna Souka comments in an Energy Intelligence article

April recorded the lowest domestic consumption in the last 17 months. For the first time in 2025, monthly gas use in electricity fell compared to last year, while grids recorded a large increase (+58%). In April, Russian gas rebounded, as it surpassed LNG imports for the first time in the last six months. Greece remains in the worst position in the ranking among EU Member States, with the largest increase (+28.4%) in gas consumption in the first quarter of 2025 compared to 2024.

The new CAN report titled “Community Engagement and Fair Benefit Sharing of Renewable Energy Projects”, in which The Green Tank contributed, presents a guide aimed at strengthening the engagement of local communities in renewable energy projects.

In March 2025, CO2 emissions from fossil fuel power plants were 1.01 million tons, down 41% from February. A total of 4.5 million tons were emitted from the power generation sector in the first quarter of 2025. Emissions from fossil gas plants for the first quarter were the highest of the decade at 2.36 million tons. Two lignite plants and three gas plants made up the top five polluters. The power sector has already met 44% of the available carbon budget for 2025 (10.2 million tons) based on the revised final NECP and is currently off track to achieve the

March 2025 saw a decline in demand (-5.8%). RES production in the same month reached 2,299 GWh, despite increased curtailments (104 GWh), and reduced wind generation. However, the huge increase in fossil gas in the first quarter of 2025 (+2,142 GWh), which was directed mainly at exports, has led to a completely opposite picture to the one observed in the same period of the previous two years, when clean energy surpassed fossil fuels.

On Tuesday April 29, the Green Tank organized the webinar “What is the ETS 2 and why does it concern us?”, in the context of the LIFE Effect project.

Nikos Mantzaris spoke to Kalli Zarali and the ERT3 show “Borders” about PPC’s plans in Western Macedonia and the new energy landscape that is taking shape in the Western Balkans.

Joint letter co-signed by The Green Tank

In March, the upward trend of gas that had started in October 2024 has stopped. However, gas consumption in the first quarter of 2025 (20.86 TWh) was the highest compared to the same quarter of all previous years (+ 28.7% year-on-year), mainly due to the increase in gas use in electricity. For the fifth consecutive month, LNG continued its resurgence with a 52.2% share in the first quarter of 2025, in contrast to last year's quarter where Russian gas dominated with a 43.3% share.

In the first two months of 2025, 3.43 million tons were emitted from the power sector, an increase of 41.6% compared to the same period in 2024. The top five polluters were 2 lignite and 3 fossil gas plants. The sector's emissions are off track to meet the estimated total emissions target for 2025 (10.2 million tons), based on the final revised NECP.

In February 2025, electricity production from fossil gas was the second highest on record, following July 2021. In fact, it was twice as high as the year before, with a clear impact on the average monthly wholesale electricity price which also doubled (153 €/MWh in Feb. 2025 vs 73.6 €/MWh in Feb. 2024). The large increase in gas in the first two months of 2025 (+2,115 GWh), primarily covered exports and much less the decrease in net energy (-738 GWh from RES and large hydro).

How did the Memorandum and the contradictory European policies threaten the sustainability of the Greek electricity production model? Publication by Nikos Mantzaris in the special issue of the scientific journal 'Regional Integration: Politics, Economics, Governance'.

In February 2025, domestic gas consumption (7.86 TWh) soared to a new high. In the first two months of 2025 consumption increased by 4.62 TWh, compared to the same period last year, due to a very strong increase in gas usage for electricity production (+72.5%). The first source of imports in the two months was LNG with a 51% share, maintaining the trend established since November 2024.

In January 2025, 1.74 million tons were emitted from the power sector (+35.8% compared to January last year), exceeding the levels of January 2022. The top five polluters were 2 lignite and 3 fossil gas plants. The sector's emissions are off track to meet the estimated total emissions target for 2025 (10.2 million tons), based on the final revised NECP.