Difference between revisions of "Greece and coal"

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{{CoalSwarm}} While Greece produces no hard coal it is the second largest European producer of lignite after Germany, with approximately 80 million tonnes mined in 2004. The largest domestic coal producer is the government-owned [[Public Power Corporation]] (PPC), which controls approximately 63% of the known coal reserves.<ref name="EIA Coal">Energy Information Administration, [http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Greece/Coal.html "Greece: Coal"], Energy Information Administration, undated, accessed July 2008.</ref> In addition, hard coal is imported from South Africa, Russia, Venezuela, and Colombia.<ref name="U.S. Geological Survey 2005">Harold R. Newman, [http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2005/grmyb05.pdf "The Mineral Industry of Greece"], 2005 Minerals Yearbook, U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey, December 2007.</ref>
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{{Show badges|CoalSwarm|Navbar-Greeceandcoal}} Greece is the second largest producer of lignite in the European Union after [[Germany and coal|Germany]], and most electricity is produced from lignite,<ref name="PPC">Energy Information Administration, [https://www.dei.gr/en/i-dei/i-etairia/tomeis-drastiriotitas/oruxeia "PPC > Company profile > Activity Sectors > Mines"], [[Public Power Corporation]], undated, accessed May 2018.</ref> which supplies a third of Greece's energy.<ref name="NPR2017">[https://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/07/30/539809439/why-greece-has-been-slow-to-embrace-clean-energy "Why Greece Has Been Slow To Embrace Clean Energy"], NPR, 30 July 2017</ref> The largest domestic coal producer is the government-owned [[Public Power Corporation]] (PPC). Most hard coal is imported from Russia.<ref name=IEA>[https://www.iea.org/media/countries/Greece.pdf "Greece - Energy System Overview"], [[IEA]], accessed June 2018</ref>
  
 
==Power Generation==
 
==Power Generation==
  
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Approximately 75 percent of the country's electricity is sourced from thermal power stations, predominantly coal. According to the U.S. Geological Survey lignite accounted for approximately 65% of the fuel for the country’s power
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22% of electricity was generated from lignite in 2015.<ref name="WWF">[http://www.wwf.gr/images/pdfs/EnergyReportFinal.pdf LONG TERM PLAN FOR THE GREEK ENERGY SYSTEM], WWF, October 2017</ref> [[PPC]] is attempting to sell 40% of its coal-fired capacity by 2019.<ref>[https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-eurozone-greece-publicpower-meeting/public-power-postpones-board-meeting-on-units-sale-after-worker-occupation-idUKKBN1I419A Public Power postpones board meeting on units sale after worker occupation"], Reuters, 3 May 2018</ref>
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generation.<ref name="U.S. Geological Survey 2005"/> Greece's electricity generation capacity has grown by 50% in the last decade and projections are for an additional 6,000 megawatts being required by 2015. The bulk of additional capacity is expected to come from gas-fired plants.<ref name="EIA Electricity">Energy Information Administration, [http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Greece/Electricity.html Greece: Electricity"], Energy Information Administration website, approx 2006, accessed July 2008.</ref>
 
  
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Since 2001, the monopoly of PPC on power generation has been reduced and the market opened up to private power generators. The Energy Information Service notes that "since PPC lost its legal monopoly, the Greek government has issued licenses for over 2,750 MW of private thermal generating plants. However, most private producers have been unable to finance plants. As a result, PPC still produced 96 percent of Greece’s electricity in 2004. Apart from refurbishments, the Greek government has legally prevented PPC from bidding for tenders to build the first round of new capacity, totaling 900MW, until 2010."<ref name="EIA Electricity"/>
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==Proposed Coal-Fired Power Stations==
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* [[PPC]] is reported to have decided to invest approximately €1.5 billion<ref name=euract/> in the new lignite-fired unit 5 of [[Ptolemaida power station]], and finance for this is being provided from Germany.
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* [[Shenhua Group]] has agreed to upgrade lignite units.<ref name= "EntGr">[https://www.enterprisegreece.gov.gr/en/invest-in-greece/sectors-for-growth/energy "Energy"], ''Enterprise Greece'', accessed June 2018</ref>
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==Legal Action==
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In September 2017 the permitting process was challenged.<ref>[https://www.clientearth.org/clientearth-challenges-greeces-untouchable-coal-power-permits/ "ClientEarth challenges Greece’s untouchable coal power permits"], Client Earth, 14 Sept 2017.</ref>
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==Air Pollution==
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All lignite units that will operate in 2021 (including the not yet completed Ptolemais 5) will have to upgrade to comply with the EU Best Available Techniques manual (LCP BREF), which sets new, stricter emissions limits.<ref name="WWF"/>
  
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==Proposed Coal-Fired Power Stations==
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==Subsidies==
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In 2013 the government spent 150 million euros subsidizing coal.<ref> [https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/resource-documents/11501.pdf "Cutting Europe’s lifelines to coal: Tracking subsidies in 10 countries"], ODI, 2017</ref>
  
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* [[Agios Nikolaos Power Station]] in Beotia is proposed by [[Mytilineos]] and [[Endesa]], which have formed a joint venture company named [[Endesa Hellas]], to have an installed capacity of 600 megawatts; the estimated cost is 890 million euros. A securities analyst reported in May 2007 that the company had submitted an application for a power generation license.<ref> [http://www.beta.gr/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_view&gid=44 "JV with Endesa provides great prospects in Greece and SE Europe"], Beta Securities, May 10, 2007.</ref> In July 2007, Endesa Hellas reported that the company aimed to have the "clean coal" plant online by the first half of 2013. (It also flagged that plans for a "clean coal" plant of unstated capacity were under development for a location in Albania).<ref>Endesa Hellas, [http://www.ase.gr/content/gr/announcements/Files/ENDHEL_BOD%20final%20Draft%202%208%202007%20%CE%95%CE%9D%20%20_2.pdf "ENDESA Hellas Board of Directors: Convenes to Decisions"], Media Release, July 30, 2007.</ref>
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==EU coal phase out==
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Like all EU members, Greece has a legally-binding clean energy target.  Greece is aiming for 18 percent of energy consumption to be from renewables by 2020.<ref name="Bloomberg2018"> [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-30/greece-kicks-off-3-6-billion-program-for-solar-wind-projects "Greece Kicks Off $3.6 Billion Program for Solar, Wind Projects"], Bloomberg, 30 April 2018</ref> EU policy makers and electricity companies consider investing in coal not to make any business sense compared to investing in renewable energy in Greece.<ref name=euract> [https://www.euractiv.com/section/energy/news/greece-criticised-for-lacking-modern-energy-plan-to-ditch-coal/ "Greece criticised for lacking modern energy plan to ditch coal"], EURACTIV, 29 May 2018</ref>
  
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* [[Astakos Power Station]] in Etoloakarnania is a proposal by [[T-Power]] - a consortium of Edison and Hellenic Petroleum -- for a 600 megawatt project that ''Power in Europe'' describes as being in the "pre-proposal" stage.<ref name= "Power in Europe P24">[http://www.platts.com/Content/Electric%20Power/Newsletters%20&%20Reports/Power%20in%20Europe/See%20A%20Sample/index.pdf "PiE’s new power plant project tracker – April 2008"], ''Power in Europe'', Issue 523, April 7, 2008, page 24.</ref>
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Western Macedonia is a "Coal Region in Transition".<ref>[https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/1_eu_coal_regions_in_transition.pdf "Coal Regions in Transition Platform"], European Commission, 4 June 2018</ref>
  
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==Coal Mining==
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===Solar===
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The government is tendering for more solar.<ref name="Bloomberg2018"/>
  
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The International Energy Agency lists the major Greek lignite mining operations in 2005 as being:<ref>International Energy Agency, [http://www.iea.org/textbase/nppdf/free/2006/greece2006.pdf ''Energy Policies of IEA Countries: Greece: 2006 Review''], 2006, page 135. (Pdf)</ref>
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===Wind===
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* Ptolemais (PPC) Western Macedonia 46.08 million tonnes with 1280.7 million tonnes of reserves and a notional life of 28 years
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The government is tendering for more wind.<ref name="Bloomberg2018"/>
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* Amyndaion (PPC) Western Macedonia 8.52 million tonnes with 165.3 million tonnes of reserves and a notional life of 19 years
 
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* Megalopolis (PPC) Peloponnese 14.44 million tonnes with 251.1 million tonnes of reserves and a notional life of 17 years
 
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* Florina (PPC) Western Macedonia 0.86 million tonnes with 138.4 million tonnes of reserves and a notional life of 161 years
 
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* Drama Eastern Macedonia 900,000 tonnes
 
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* Elassona (PPC) Central Greece 169,000 tonnes
 
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* Komnina (PPC) Western Macedonia 100 ,000 tonnes
 
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* Privately-owned mines Western Macedonia 2.02 million tonnes with 191 million tonnes of reserves and a notional life of 95 years.
 
  
 
==Articles and Resources==
 
==Articles and Resources==
 
===Sources===
 
===Sources===
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<references/>
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{{reflist|2}}
  
 
===Related SourceWatch articles===
 
===Related SourceWatch articles===
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====Europe and coal====
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*[[Austria and coal]]
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*[[Europe and coal]]
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*[[Belgium and coal]]
 
 
*[[Bulgaria and coal]]
 
*[[Bulgaria and coal]]
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*[[France and coal]]
 
 
*[[Germany and coal]]
 
*[[Germany and coal]]
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*[[Hungary and coal]]
 
 
*[[Italy and coal]]
 
*[[Italy and coal]]
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*[[Netherlands and coal]]
 
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*[[Norway and coal]]
 
 
*[[Poland and coal]]
 
*[[Poland and coal]]
 
*[[Slovakia and coal]]
 
*[[Slovakia and coal]]
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*[[United Kingdom and coal]]
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*[[Turkey and coal]]
  
 
===External Articles===
 
===External Articles===
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====Background information====
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* [https://rekk.hu/analysis-details/238/south_east_europe_electricity_roadmap_-_seermap "South East Europe Electricity Roadmap - SEERMAP"], Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK), accessed June 2018
 
* International Energy Agency, [http://www.iea.org/Textbase/stats/coaldata.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=GR "Coal in Greece in 2005"], International Energy Agency website, accessed July 2008.
 
* International Energy Agency, [http://www.iea.org/Textbase/stats/coaldata.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=GR "Coal in Greece in 2005"], International Energy Agency website, accessed July 2008.
 
* International Energy Agency, [http://www.iea.org/Textbase/country/m_country.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=GR "Greece"], International Energy Agency website, accessed July 2008.
 
* International Energy Agency, [http://www.iea.org/Textbase/country/m_country.asp?COUNTRY_CODE=GR "Greece"], International Energy Agency website, accessed July 2008.
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* European Environment Agency, [http://eper.eea.europa.eu/eper/ European Pollutant Emission Register]. (This has a list of power stations and their current emissions).
 
* European Environment Agency, [http://eper.eea.europa.eu/eper/ European Pollutant Emission Register]. (This has a list of power stations and their current emissions).
  
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{{Stub}}
 
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[[Category:Energy]]
 
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[[Category:Mining]]
 
 
[[Category:Climate change]]
 
[[Category:Climate change]]
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[[Category:Environment]]
 
 
[[Category:Greece]]
 
[[Category:Greece]]
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[[Category:National and international coal profiles]]

Latest revision as of 16:14, 25 December 2019

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This article is part of the CoalSwarm coverage of Greece and coal.
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Greece is the second largest producer of lignite in the European Union after Germany, and most electricity is produced from lignite,[1] which supplies a third of Greece's energy.[2] The largest domestic coal producer is the government-owned Public Power Corporation (PPC). Most hard coal is imported from Russia.[3]

Power Generation

22% of electricity was generated from lignite in 2015.[4] PPC is attempting to sell 40% of its coal-fired capacity by 2019.[5]

Proposed Coal-Fired Power Stations

  • PPC is reported to have decided to invest approximately €1.5 billion[6] in the new lignite-fired unit 5 of Ptolemaida power station, and finance for this is being provided from Germany.

Legal Action

In September 2017 the permitting process was challenged.[8]

Air Pollution

All lignite units that will operate in 2021 (including the not yet completed Ptolemais 5) will have to upgrade to comply with the EU Best Available Techniques manual (LCP BREF), which sets new, stricter emissions limits.[4]

Subsidies

In 2013 the government spent 150 million euros subsidizing coal.[9]

EU coal phase out

Like all EU members, Greece has a legally-binding clean energy target. Greece is aiming for 18 percent of energy consumption to be from renewables by 2020.[10] EU policy makers and electricity companies consider investing in coal not to make any business sense compared to investing in renewable energy in Greece.[6]

Western Macedonia is a "Coal Region in Transition".[11]

Solar

The government is tendering for more solar.[10]

Wind

The government is tendering for more wind.[10]

Articles and Resources

Sources

  1. ↑ Energy Information Administration, "PPC > Company profile > Activity Sectors > Mines", Public Power Corporation, undated, accessed May 2018.
  2. ↑ "Why Greece Has Been Slow To Embrace Clean Energy", NPR, 30 July 2017
  3. ↑ "Greece - Energy System Overview", IEA, accessed June 2018
  4. ↑ Jump up to: 4.0 4.1 LONG TERM PLAN FOR THE GREEK ENERGY SYSTEM, WWF, October 2017
  5. ↑ Public Power postpones board meeting on units sale after worker occupation", Reuters, 3 May 2018
  6. ↑ Jump up to: 6.0 6.1 "Greece criticised for lacking modern energy plan to ditch coal", EURACTIV, 29 May 2018
  7. ↑ "Energy", Enterprise Greece, accessed June 2018
  8. ↑ "ClientEarth challenges Greece’s untouchable coal power permits", Client Earth, 14 Sept 2017.
  9. ↑ "Cutting Europe’s lifelines to coal: Tracking subsidies in 10 countries", ODI, 2017
  10. ↑ Jump up to: 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Greece Kicks Off $3.6 Billion Program for Solar, Wind Projects", Bloomberg, 30 April 2018
  11. ↑ "Coal Regions in Transition Platform", European Commission, 4 June 2018

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