Wind Energy: Reduced growth rate compared to 2020
The total wind power in Greece reached 4,451 MW at the end of 2021, as this year 128 new wind turbines with a capacity of 338.3 MW were connected to the network, which correspond to investments totaling over 340 million euros. This is an increase of 8.2% compared to the end of 2020, a growth rate that is however reduced compared to the performance of the industry in 2020 (43%), due to the pandemic and administrative barriers.
These emerge from the annual Wind Energy Statistics in Greece announced by the Hellenic Wind Energy Scientific Association (ELETAEN).
In 2021:
-The highest hourly penetration of wind power was 73.5% and was observed in the early hours of Monday 25.10.2021 (03:00 – 04:00), ie during this period almost three quarters of domestic consumption was covered by wind farms.
-Total for 2010 hours the wind power penetration was over 30%
-Total for 3684 hours the penetration of renewable sources (wind, photovoltaic etc.) was over 30% and for 841 hours was over 50%
-The total hourly penetration of RES exceeded 81% during the noon hours of Thursday 28.10.2021 (10:00 – 16:00) reaching 92.6% at 13: 00-14: 00.
By the end of 2021 more than 650 MW of new wind farms were under construction, the vast majority of which are expected to be connected to the grid within the next 18 months.
The financial benefit that wind farms offered to consumers in October 2021 (the most recent month for which official data were published) was at least 114 million euros. This benefit is derived from the difference between the average wholesale market price (204 Euro / MWh) and the average compensation for wind farms. In this way the wind farms allow the State to transfer additional resources to the Energy Transition Fund through which it subsidizes consumer accounts.
With the projection of these data for the first four months of 2022, then if the energy crisis is maintained at the levels of October 2021, the financial surplus from the operation of wind farms amounts to about 800 million Euros for the seven months from October 2021 onwards.
On the occasion of the publication of the Statistics, the Chairman of the Board of ELETAEN Panagiotis Ladakakos, stated:
“2021 closed for wind energy with a positive sign. 8.2% annual growth is not small, but it is clearly reduced compared to 2019 and 2020 and mainly compared to what the country needs.
Especially in this time of crisis of fossil fuel prices, the need for more wind farms is more intense. The wind farms that operate in our country offer a relief to the consumers and the national economy that are pressed by the high electricity bills. “And unfortunately they will continue to be pressured as long as we remain so dependent on fossil fuels and the consumer bill is determined by gas prices.”
(ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ)
