Monitoring the sustainability of the Greek energy system

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 2007

Energy is essential to economic and social development and improved quality of life. The European Union (EU) constitutes one of the world's largest energy consumers. The EU members include -among others -Germany and Greece, two countries with large disparities/differences in their energy systems, yet with certain similarities.

The energy sector today, primarily based on fossil fuels, is undergoing a transformation towards renewable energy sources (RES) driven by climate and environmental crises (European Commission, 2021). The transition from fossil fuels to RES is a key investment priority for the European Union, with significant financial packages allocated for this purpose (European Commission, 2021). However, a partial technological shift without addressing socio-economic relations risks perpetuating the same ecological crises and social inequalities as the previous system . The necessary shift in energy models must be implemented in terms of social and ecological sustainability and justice (Sovalook et al., 2017). This study examines the problems of the old economic and energy system, as well as the potential of Energy Communities (ECs), as an alternative energy model based on solidarity economics. Alongside a literature review, this research investigates ECs in Greece, exploring their capacity to change the country's energy model. The findings confirm the distinctiveness of ECs compared to conventional enterprises and state management, particularly in terms of goals, governance, and surplus management. Nevertheless, challenges and limitations arise within the current institutional framework, as the private sector appropriates the EC institution (Tsagari, 2020).

The main trend in developmental theories nowadays is the Sustainable Development theory that sets environmental protection as a pre-requisite for economical growth. In 1992 more than 180 states met in Rio and agreed on a common action plan for the protection of climate and the environment within the views of sustainable growth. Thus, after the Conference an international framework was created (AGENDA 21, Green Bible, Habitat II, Agenda, and Urban Agenda) within which. Actions having as common characteristic the developmental model of sustainable growth are coordinated. Many of the solutions discussed in AGENDA 21 concern actions at a local level. Therefore the role of local authorities is considered very important for the realization of the aims of AGENDA 21. Energy production and its use are considered responsible for the largest part of climate change. Consequently, energy policy becomes an important factor for the protection of the environment. According to the principles of sustainable growth this policy should have not only economic but also socio-ecological aims. Sustainable growth requires actions "from beneath", an element giving local authorities an important role in energy policy making since they are closer to local problems and able to coordinate those actions. This paper illustrates the policies concerned with the energy orientation of the country (Greece), the renewable energy applications and the entanglement of the country in fossil fuels, i.e. energy sources harmful for the natural environment and -in the long runhinders the adoption of new technologies. Furthermore, the paper outlines the actions needed to be developed, through a down-top process, in order to achieve sustainable development and protect the environment. For the above purpose we investigate the energy growth rate for European states and we focus on the situation for Greece. The investigation includes all directions and kinds of renewable energy forms and applications, as well as the major policies and regulatory measures and incentives adopted by the Greek governments. The data used were retrieved from internet sources, from the National Observatory of Athens (NOA), the Greek Centre of Renewable Energy Sources (CRES), and the Greek Energy Regulator Agency (RAE). The conclusions are focused to the actions that need to be taken and also includes some suggestions regarding the policies that must be applied.

Energies

The concept of sustainable economic development takes into account economic, social and environmental aspects and strives to achieve balance between them. One of the basic areas where it is required to revalue the current views on sustainable development is energy. The growing public awareness of environmental protection forces changes in this industry. Despite the global nature of this problem, its solution is perceived differently in various regions of the world. The unquestionable leader in introducing the idea of sustainable development economy is the European Union, where the energy sector is of key importance for the effectiveness of this process. In order to assess the sustainable energy development of the European Union countries, studies were conducted based on 13 selected indicators characterizing this sector in terms of energy, economy and environment. In order to assess the specificity of the European Union countries, these indicators were additionally compared to the gr...

Anthropogenic activities, such as the use of fossil energy sources for electricity generation, are the main contributors to the pollution of the environment. The main energy source used in the Greek electricity generation sector is lignite as there are large reserves in the country. Petroleum is also used at a great extent mainly in the islands in the autonomous power generation systems, while the use of natural gas is also increasing. Although lignite is a ‘‘cheap’’ energy source, the environmental impacts associated with its use are high, something that applies also for petroleum and in a lower extent with natural gas. The total net production of electricity from thermal power plants in Greece accounts for almost 90% of the total electricity production, while only 10% derives from hydroelectric energy and other renewable energy sources (RES). A typical example of the significance of the environmental impacts associated with the electricity generation sector is the fact that almost 74% of the total CO2 emissions in the country derive from this sector. The work presented in this paper is focused in investigating the environmental impacts associated with the atmospheric emissions and other wastes that are produced during the life cycle of the energy sources (fossil and RES) used for electricity generation in Greece. The environmental evaluation of the different energy sources is performed through the life cycle analysis methodology and the Eco-indicator 99 method and the results are used for comparison purposes.

Renewable and Alternative Energy: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications

The provision of adequate, reliable, and affordable energy, in conformity with social and environmental requirements is a vital part of sustainable development. Currently, countries are facing a two-fold energy challenge: on the one hand they should assure the provision of environmentally sustainable energy, while, on the other, energy services should be reliable, affordable, and socially acceptable. To evaluate such aspects of energy services one needs energy sustainability barometers, which provide the means to monitor the impacts of energy policies and assist policymakers in relevant decision making. Although sustainability is an ambiguous, complex, and polymorphous concept, all energy sustainability barometers incorporate the three major sustainability dimensions: social, economic, and environmental. In this chapter, we review three models for assessing the sustainability of energy development of countries: ESI, SAFE, and EAPI. We also present a brief discussion of the results, ...

Sustainability, 2025

This study integrates Sustainable Energy Development (SED) with an Energy Ecosystems (EE) framework in Greece to reveal how macrolevel policies, mesolevel infrastructures, and microlevel behaviors shape energy transitions. Drawing on historical data primarily spanning 2010-2024, supplemented by 16 semi-structured expert interviews and a macro-meso-micro analytical approach, it examines SED dimensions-affordability, supply, consumption, and security-within the supplier-producer-distributor-consumer nexus. The findings show notable progress in solar and wind adoption but also underscore persistent challenges such as high import dependency, regulatory inefficiencies, and infrastructural gaps. By proposing targeted policy directions and suggesting a new modus operandi of local-level institutional coordination, the research illustrates how an SED-EE synergy can foster resilience, innovation, and social equity, thereby informing sustainable energy strategies not just for Greece but also for other regions facing similar structural hurdles. The novel integrative perspective of this paper, unlike prior approaches that address either macropolicy targets or microlevel entrepreneurial activity alone, clarifies how mesolevel dynamics facilitate or hamper SED goals. This theoretical and practical synthesis is expected to inform the design of more resilient, equitable, and innovation-driven energy policies.

Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews Journal , 2017

The decision-making process regarding the choice of alternative energy technologies is multidimensional, made up of a number of aspects at different levels, economic, technical, environmental and social. This paper uses a multicriteria decision making model, PROMETHEE II, to determine the best fuel mix for electricity generation in an isolated Greek island, Lesvos. Having analyzed the energy profile of the island, a set of 7 energy policy scenarios are determined and assessed against economic, technical, environmental and social criteria. The energy policy scenarios include the use of conventional fuels, wind energy and natural gas, in its liquid form, liquefied natural gas (LNG). Weighting of criteria is carried out according to three different perspectives, each one focusing on sustainability, economic and environmental/social benefits. Two sensitivity analyses are performed taking into account the fluctuations of the electricity demand and the fluctuations of the fuel prices.

Energy Policy, 2004

The current state of the Greek energy system is analysed together with alternative energy policies. A by sector analysis provides an overview of the inputs that have been used for this investigation. A combination of a demand forecast performed together with an analysis based on the R-MARKAL and WASP IV models give an evaluation of the alternative policies to be applied and a determination of additional measures required in order to achieve the Kyoto targets. Three scenarios are developed, depicting the evolution of the Greek energy system under alternative policies, taking into consideration medium and high oil prices. Incremental investments and differential costs are then calculated between Kyoto and non-Kyoto scenarios and they are compared to emission permits costs.

The aim of this paper is to analyze and evaluate the use of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and their contribution to citizens' life quality. For this purpose, a survey was conducted using a sample of 400 residents in an urban area of the Attica region in Greece. The methods of Principal Components Analysis and Logit Regression were used on a dataset containing the respondents' views on various aspects of RES. Two statistical models were constructed for the identification of the main variables that are associated with the RES' usage and respondents' opinion on their contribution to life quality. The conclusions that can be drawn show that the respondents are adequately informed about some of the RES' types while most of them use at least one of the examined types of RES. The benefits that RES offer, were the most crucial variable in determining both respondents' perceptions on their usage and on their contribution to life quality.