Only a handful of nations manage to meet nearly all their electricity needs with renewable energy, and none are immediately nearby. Norway and Iceland are among the closest examples. Recently, Greece made headlines by powering its electricity system with clean energy for several hours.
Greece advanced a major milestone toward reducing dependence on fossil fuels. On Friday, October 7, the country reportedly supplied more than 100 percent of its energy demand using solar and wind alone for a total of five hours, without relying on hydraulic support, according to The Green Tank.
From January through August this year, the dominant energy mix in Greece was a combination of solar and wind, delivering 13,238 GWh or 37.5 percent, with natural gas at 37.2 percent. Electricity imports reached a nadir of 1,912 GWh since 2013, reflecting a 73.1 percent drop versus 2020 and a 45.8 percent drop versus 2021. In 2022 Greece operated as a net electricity exporter for three months.
Additions from all renewable sources, including hydropower, are pushing toward a year that could exceed fossil fuel-based savings. Greece is slowly moving toward energy independence, not just for a few hours but for extended periods. The takeaway is clear: 100 percent renewable generation is achievable with properly sized capacity, adequate investment, and supportive systems in place.
Spain still faces a longer path to energy independence
Spain has not yet achieved a comparable nationwide milestone, though there are notable isolated successes. The portal ForocochesElectricos.com notes that at 16:00 on Saturday, April 2, renewable energy generation surpassed demand by more than 300 MWh, with solar providing the largest contribution to the system. At the start of September, photovoltaic solar power had already surpassed total 2021 production.
Another remarkable achievement is El Hierro in the Canary Islands, which operated completely independently of fossil fuels for 24 days from July 13 to August 7, 2019. The Gorona del Viento facility, with an installed capacity of 11.5 MW, demonstrated that independence can extend to days and, with continued effort, to full 100 percent reliability.
Nevertheless, challenges remain. The latest monthly bulletin from the Regulatory Authority for Energy (REE) shows that in August the leading single source was gas-fired combined cycles at 30.9 percent. Renewable energies together accounted for 38.8 percent, a 3.1 percent increase over August 2021. The final electricity price on the peninsula stood at 254.94 euro per MWh, more than double the price from the previous year.
Reference articles: The Green Tank, Greece achieved 100 percent supply from renewable energies, September 2022; ForocochesElectricos.com, Greece achieved 100 percent supply with renewable energies, October 2022.
Environment department contact address: [redacted]