Climate & Energy

Gas consumption increased across all three sectors in March, reaching 6.6 TWh. Overall, for the first quarter of 2026, gas consumption in networks recorded a four-year high, while industrial gas consumption reached a five-year high. LNG ranked first in imports (4.7 TWh), but there was also a significant increase in imports via Sidirokastro (1.49 TWh, up 338% compared to February). Exports in March reached a three-year high (2.6 TWh), while for the first quarter of 2026, exports totaled 5.99 TWh, with Sidirokastro serving as the main export gateway (78%).

In the first two months of 2026, the power generation sector emitted 2.89 million tons, a 17.2% decrease compared to the same period in 2025, though higher than in 2024 and 2023. Gas-fired power plants were responsible for more than half of overall emissions (1.49 million tons), while the lignite plant of Ag. Dimitrios was the top polluter with 0.8 million tons. The carbon intensity of electricity production stood at 246.2 g CO2/kWh.

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In the first two months of 2026, net exports reached a record high (2,356 GWh), which is linked to the fourfold increase in hydroelectric generation compared to 2025, as well as the significant rise in renewable energy, despite very steep curtailments in February (208 GWh or 8.7% of total RES production). The increase in clean energy also played a decisive role in reducing generation from fossil gas to a 9-month low, resulting in the average price on the wholesale electricity market falling to €78.4/MWh (-27.9%).

Greece was a pioneer in the institutional development of energy communities, passing legislation as early as 2018, even before the relevant European Directive. However, in its early stages, the framework fell victim to exploitation by companies, and today, facing limited grid capacity, it remains at a standstill. Statements by Nikos Mantzaris, co-founder and lead policy analyst at The Green Tank, to Valia Bazou for topontiki.gr.

In February 2026, increased electricity production from wind and hydropower displaced significant amounts of fossil fuels. Compared to February 2025, renewable energy sources (wind and solar) grew by 20% (+300 GWh), while large hydropower plants produced five times more (+874 GWh). The combined increase of 1,174 GWh of clean energy led to a nearly equivalent reduction in fossil fuel use: fossil gas fell by 35% (-838 GWh) and lignite by 47% (-205 GWh).

Domestic gas consumption in February 2026 reached a three-month low (5.73 TWh). However, gas exports reached a three-year high of 1.88 TWh, due to an increase in exports from the Sidirokastro gateway. In the first two months of the year, LNG imports reached a historic high (10.2 TWh), while imports through Sidirokastro were 2.82 TWh, down 52.8% compared to the same period in 2025, marking a three-year low.

Nikos Mantzaris, senior policy analyst and co-founder of The Green Tank, spoke with Kalli Zarali on ERT3’s Synora on 27/02/2026, about electricity exports and power prices.

In January 2026, emissions from the power generation sector amounted to 1.68 million tons, down 5.5% compared to January 2025 due to reduced emissions from lignite plants, but the highest in the last 6 months. Emissions from gas plants exceeded last year's (0.9 million tons, 53.6% of the total). The carbon intensity was 265.6 g CO2/kWh, an improvement compared to December but higher than the average carbon intensity for 2025 (264.2 g CO2/kWh).

Record monthly net exports of 1,264 GWh in January 2026. Unlike in 2025, when the increase in exports was linked to increased use of fossil gas, the surge in exports in January is related to the large increase in wind power production, which reached a five-year high of 1,509 GWh. A four-year high was also recorded for large hydroelectric plants with 738.4 GWh. However, the average price on the wholesale electricity market remained at the same level as in December 2025 (€108.7/MWh), due to the extensive use of expensive fossil gas (2,405 GWh), whose production was very close to that

At the event organised by the Hellenic Wind Energy Association (ELETAEN) during the 8th Verde.tec on Saturday, 28 February 2026, Nikos Mantzaris, Head of Policy Analysis and Co-founder of The Green Tank, presented the latest data on the trajectory of Greece’s energy and climate policy.

In her article published in Ergoliptikon Vima titled “Energy and buildings: The new landscape of efficiency and sustainability”, Εnergy policy analyst Ioanna Souka highlights the pivotal role of buildings in the energy transition and the new landscape taking shape at both European and national level.

Ioanna Souka, Energy Policy Analyst at The Green Tank, spoke on Greece’s troubling lead in Eurostat energy poverty indicators and the forthcoming Social Climate Plan in a radio interview on the programme “O men kai i de”, hosted by Maria Tsakiri and Christos Tsalikidis on 102FM.

A record high in domestic fossil gas consumption was recorded in the first month of the year (8.1 TWh). Most of the imports were LNG (5.36 TWh), which also hit a record high, while Russian gas imports (2.13 TWh) were above the average for the last three years. Electricity accounted for the largest share of consumption (61.9%), while gas networks recorded the largest increase (+15.8% compared to January 2025), reaching 2.3 TWh. Compared to EU-27 Member States, Greece had the 8th highest increase in consumption between 2025 and 2024.