The Efforts towards and Challenges of Greece’s Post-Lignite Era: The Case of Megalopolis

Vangelis Marinakis, Alexandros Flamos, Giorgos Stamtsis, Ioannis Georgizas, Yannis Maniatis and Haris Doukas
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Vangelis Marinakis: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15773 Athens, Greece
Alexandros Flamos: Technoeconomics of Energy Systems Laboratory (TEESlab), Department of Industrial Management and Technology, University of Piraeus, 18534 Piraeus, Greece
Giorgos Stamtsis: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15773 Athens, Greece
Ioannis Georgizas: Cities Network “Sustainable City”, 16562 Athens, Greece
Yannis Maniatis: Department of Digital Systems, University of Piraeus, 18534 Piraeus, Greece
Haris Doukas: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15773 Athens, Greece

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 24, 1-21

Abstract: Greece has historically been one of the most lignite-dependent countries in Europe, due to the abundant coal resources in the region of Western Macedonia and the municipality of Megalopolis, Arcadia (region of Peloponnese). However, a key part of the National Energy and Climate Plan is to gradually phase out the use of lignite, which includes the decommissioning of all existing lignite units by 2023, except the Ptolemaida V unit, which will be closed by 2028. This plan makes Greece a frontrunner among countries who intensively use lignite in energy production. In this context, this paper investigates the environmental, economic, and social state of Megalopolis and the related perspectives with regard to the energy transition, through the elaboration of a SWOT analysis, highlighting the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of the municipality of Megalopolis and the regional unit of Arcadia. The analysis is based on four main pillars, namely “clean energy”, “smart agricultural production”, “sustainable tourism”, and “other (e.g., industry, technology, and education)”. The integration of the “Energy Efficiency First” principle, the mitigation of household energy poverty (especially in a region with district heating installations), and collectively driven energy actions for engaging and empowering younger generations (e.g., in the form of next-generation energy communities) are among the solutions that are expected to have a significant contribution towards Megalopolis’ just energy transition.

Keywords: just energy transition; sustainable development; renewable energy; energy efficiency first; next-generation energy communities; energy poverty; SWOT; lignite; coal; Megalopolis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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