In Week 24, Greece was among the few Southeast European electricity markets where power prices increased while neighbouring systems softened. The Greek day-ahead average rose by 2.6% to €91.53/MWh. The move coincided with higher electricity demand and a renewable generation mix that differed from the regional average.
Demand growth and summer cooling impact
Greek electricity consumption increased by 55.0 GWh, or 5.8%, to reach 1.01 TWh. The demand increase was driven mainly by early summer cooling needs. Despite the higher load, the power system response was uneven as renewable output trends diverged.
Solar, wind and hydropower drive supply balance
Solar generation grew by 22.8%, but wind output fell by 31.4%. Overall variable renewable generation increased only slightly, up 1.9%, which limited its ability to offset rising consumption. Hydropower output declined by 17.3%, reducing available low-cost flexible generation.
Even with tighter supply conditions, Greek thermal generation decreased by 6.3%. Lower lignite and gas production outweighed any need to meet higher demand through thermal output. This pattern differed from most SEE markets, which increased thermal generation in response to weaker hydro conditions and stronger load.
Net imports fall as cross-border flows change
Greece also adjusted its external trade position during the week. Net imports declined from 169.7 GWh to 61.9 GWh, down by 63.6%. The reduction reflected improved balancing supported by domestic generation changes and cross-border flows.
The combination of rising consumption and weaker wind contributed to upward price movement in Greece during Week 24. Stronger solar output and the improved trade balance helped moderate volatility compared with broader regional declines. As a result, Greece recorded a modest increase in day-ahead prices while many neighbouring markets saw lower levels.
Renewable timing as a pricing factor
The Greek market case highlighted how renewable structure and timing can influence pricing outcomes alongside demand changes. The balance between solar, wind and hydropower availability affected the weekly price direction in Greece relative to surrounding systems.
