“No more photovoltaics” is the message being sent by the wind energy sector.
At Wednesday’s annual press conference, held ahead of World Wind Energy Day this Sunday, representatives of the Hellenic Scientific Association of Wind Energy (ELETAEN) focused on the growing issues of energy curtailments and zero pricing that are affecting the entire renewable energy market.
This phenomenon, which is becoming increasingly pronounced in the Greek market during periods of low demand and high RES output, is attributed by wind energy representatives to the disproportionate growth between wind and solar power. Their proposed solution is the rationalization and optimization of the green energy production mix.
“The approval of new grid connections for photovoltaic parks should be halted immediately, while it should continue for wind and other RES technologies,” said ELETAEN President Panagiotis Ladakakos.
Highlighting the imbalance between solar and wind energy, he noted that by the end of 2024, a total of 15,000 megawatts of RES capacity had been installed, with 9,500 megawatts from photovoltaics and 5,500 megawatts from wind. In 2024 alone, 2,500 megawatts of photovoltaics were added, compared to just 125 megawatts of wind. In the first months of 2025, an additional 1,000 megawatts of photovoltaic capacity was installed, and by year-end, the total is expected to exceed 3,000 megawatts.
More than 85% of new projects that have secured grid capacity are photovoltaic, ELETAEN representatives said, stressing the need for corrective measures to preserve the national energy plan’s 2030 target of a 60% photovoltaic and 40% wind mix.
Wind power, unlike photovoltaics, generates electricity continuously throughout the day and night, helping to reduce occurrences of zero pricing and curtailments. With this in mind, ELETAEN proposed reinstating operational support schemes via competitive tenders for new wind farms.
“To lower prices for consumers, we need competitive projects,” the representatives emphasized. Regarding the reported exit of Portuguese company EDPR from the Greek market, ELETAEN commented: “Greece is not an easy market.”