Heatwave to test power grid stability, authorities on high alert

Energy authorities are on high alert as the country experiences another intense heatwave, raising the risk of localized blackouts due to grid overload.

While officials assure the power system is reinforced to handle the surge in demand, mainly from widespread air conditioning use, they warn that short, localized outages on medium-voltage lines cannot be ruled out, as seen during this summer’s earlier heatwave.

To meet evening demand, when solar output drops, the grid is supported by an additional 870 MW from the new Motor Oil-TERNA natural gas unit in Komotini, northeastern Greece, now in trial operation. If needed, power utility PPC’s lignite units at Agios Dimitrios and Ptolemaida 5 will also be activated.

Authorities are closely monitoring the interconnected Balkan and Eastern European grids, where cross-border energy flows last summer failed to stabilize prices, pushing megawatt-hour costs to €1,000.

A newly formed EU task force, created on Greece’s proposal, is set to meet this week, via video conference, to improve regional coordination and prevent market disruptions.

Greece, represented by Deputy Energy Minister Nikos Tsafos and the Independent Power Transmission Operator’s (ADMIE) General Director of Operation, Infrastructure and Market, Dimitris Michos, has compiled related data indicating inefficiencies in north-south energy flows.

This data reportedly points to algorithmic market distortions that disadvantage countries like Greece, Bulgaria, and Romania.