Long-Term Analysis of Hydropower’s Pivotal Role in Sustainable Future of Greece

Abstract

Hydropower, a proven renewable electricity generation technology, has satisfied approximately 16% of the global annual electricity consumption up to the present day. In Greece, hydropower applications throughout the last thirty years have covered almost 6–10% of the mainland’s annual electricity demand. The present work examines the long-term performance and the current status of hydropower applications in Greece as well as their potential contribution to accomplishing the national energy targets set in compliance with the European Directives. A dedicated visualization of large hydropower (LHP) plants’ main characteristics is also performed. Moreover, a critical evaluation of the existing LHP plants’ energy yield-based time evolution is carried out, attempting to provide insights into any fundamental trends and similarities. The analysis reveals that the majority of Greek LHP plants are primarily used to meet the corresponding mainland’s peak load demand. To this end, acknowledging the power balancing service capacity of pumped hydro storage stations, the prospects and the challenges for the specific energy storage technology’s deployment are also emphasized.