Greek Islands’ Energy Transition: From Lighthouse Projects to the Emergence of Energy Communities

Dimitris Al. Katsaprakakis (), Antonia Proka, Dimitris Zafirakis, Markos Damasiotis, Panos Kotsampopoulos, Nikos Hatziargyriou, Eirini Dakanali, George Arnaoutakis and Dimitrios Xevgenos
Additional contact information
Dimitris Al. Katsaprakakis: Power Plant Synthesis Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece
Antonia Proka: European Federation of Citizen Energy Cooperatives, REScoop.eu, Rue de la Charité 22, 1210 Brussels, Belgium
Dimitris Zafirakis: Laboratory of Soft Energy Applications and Environmental Protection, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of West Attica, 12201 Athens, Greece
Markos Damasiotis: Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving, 19th km Marathonos Ave., 19009 Pikermi, Greece
Panos Kotsampopoulos: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Zografou, Greece
Nikos Hatziargyriou: School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Zografou, Greece
Eirini Dakanali: Power Plant Synthesis Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece
George Arnaoutakis: Power Plant Synthesis Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hellenic Mediterranean University, 71410 Heraklion, Greece
Dimitrios Xevgenos: Biotechnology and Society Group, Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 16, 1-34

Abstract: Energy transition in islands constitutes a major challenge. Apart from a necessity, it can also be a great opportunity for sustainable social and economic development. Toward this direction, a new, promising movement has emerged recently in Greek islands. Straight from the roots of the insular population, development of energy communities comes as the result of increased awareness of local people, raised also by the legacy of lighthouse projects and initiatives. Kythnos, Ikaria, Sifnos, Tilos, Agios Efstratios, Crete, and Chalki, are all islands that have embraced the implementation of successful, local-scale innovation projects and/or initiatives, generating meaningful results across different energy aspects and contributing to positive social change. Our study provides an overview of the broader energy transition aspects in Greek islands, discusses the impact of the aforementioned exemplary cases, and further elaborates on the model of energy communities. According to our analysis, leveraging on the experience of lighthouse projects and initiatives, and on the dynamics of the emerging energy community movement, could lead to increased social and economic benefits for the insular populations, to broad public acceptance, and to minimum environmental impacts for the islands’ natural ecosystems.

Keywords: energy transition islands; renewable energy sources; energy communities; hybrid power plants; public acceptance; energy democracy independency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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