NergEu

The continuous increase in natural disasters is directly linked to the phenomenon of climate change. The impacts are now evident, with global warming, the rise in extreme weather events, the frequency of wildfires, floods, and droughts increasingly engaging scientists and governments worldwide. The wasteful and irrational use of natural resources, along with anthropogenic activities, is closely associated with the climate crisis and the emission of greenhouse gases. Hence, the urgent need arises to reduce air pollution emissions and, consequently, the carbon footprint of cities and urban centers. The implementation and integration of various Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) are particularly crucial. The gradual reduction of atmospheric pollution and, by extension, the limitation of the climate change phenomenon and crisis that currently plague the entire planet can be achieved through the adoption of these technologies. The importance of transitioning to renewable energy sources is underscored by the need to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change, such as rising global temperatures and the increased occurrence of extreme weather events. Scientists and governments worldwide are increasingly recognizing the urgency of transitioning to cleaner and more sustainable energy alternatives. Moreover, the interconnection between climate change and natural disasters, such as wildfires, floods, and droughts, is becoming more pronounced. The excessive exploitation of natural resources and the emission of greenhouse gases contribute to the intensification of these disasters, posing significant challenges to both ecosystems and human societies. It is now imperative to shift towards more sustainable practices and energy sources. The integration of renewable energy sources stands out as a key solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat the adverse impacts of climate change and natural disasters. By embracing renewable energy technologies, we can pave the way for a more resilient and sustainable future for our planet.

In a time where the phenomena of climate change and energy crisis increasingly engage the scientific community, there is talk of the integration and application of green energy technologies. The focus is primarily on technologies related to the production and integration of green hydrogen. Hydrogen can be utilized as a fuel, an energy carrier, and a means of energy storage. Green hydrogen is produced through the electrolytic splitting of water, with the required electrical energy sourced from purely Renewable Energy Sources. Its production method indicates zero emissions, especially concerning CO2 levels. Such a system can ensure energy transition and autonomy, with applications ranging from industrial sectors to building facilities at the urban and rural levels. The goals set by the European Union regarding hydrogen by 2030 are ambitious, and Greece aims to play a leading role in this new phase, as it constitutes a key pillar in the transition to green energy. The objective is to adapt to the new market dynamics and develop the technical and economic framework related to green hydrogen. This requires advanced knowledge, the development of new infrastructures, and improvement in factors related to hydrogen storage, transportation, and distribution.

The global social and political landscape is heavily influenced by the energy crisis, the phenomenon of climate change, and other environmental issues. Tense geopolitical relations and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine are causing significant shifts in the energy sector worldwide. This leads to new requirements and challenges for Governments.  The transition to clean energy is a major issue and a top priority for governments. Rivalry in the market and economies is evolving and closely linked to the shift toward green energy. Energy market demand and needs are primarily driven by international affairs, which have been highly disruptive and rapidly changing in recent years.  However, as previously mentioned, given that the energy transition is closely connected to global social, political, and economic developments, there are some inhibitory factors. One of them is the increased cost of systems using non-conventional energy sources, as well as the taxation imposed in cases where existing hydrocarbon-based systems are not replaced, particularly affecting low-income citizens. Additionally, there has been talk of a surge in natural gas prices as a direct consequence of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Europe had to grapple with the loss of Russian natural gas through liquefied natural gas imports despite its transition towards clean energy. These were highly expensive investments that resulted in a sharp increase in natural gas prices, significantly burdening society.  Therefore, it is considered necessary for governments to take measures to encourage and facilitate a smooth energy transition for citizens, as the installation costs of Renewable Energy Sources systems to meet energy requirements, as well as electric vehicles, are quite high. It is particularly important to create incentives and support measures for citizens to actively participate in the fight against climate change and environmental crisis reduction. Furthermore, increasing investments and infrastructure in zero-carbon technologies are crucial. 

Recognizing human emotions and ideas as the driving forces on the path of evolution and radical change is the first and most essential step towards understanding the concept of sustainable development and sustainability, and ultimately achieving them. Understanding human emotions, perceptions, and experiences lies in breaking free from the idea that addressing all the enormous environmental problems worldwide is only possible through practical actions. Green energy projects, innovative technologies, strategies to reduce atmospheric pollution and mitigate climate change and energy crisis are not enough when society has not delved into the roots and magnitude of these problems. The essence lies in respecting nature and the environment that host humans and their activities. The goal is to deeply understand – as a society – the urgent need for protection and preservation of the natural environment. It is the opportune moment to consciously emphasize the cause, and for frequently used environmental terms such as ecology and sustainability to be substantively integrated and entrenched in the culture, beliefs, and aspirations of society. Furthermore, of significant importance in the development and modernization of ideas and the projects being implemented by humans today – utilizing their intelligence, knowledge, experiences, and the stimuli they receive, as well as the resources and technologies at their disposal – is the genuine recognition of the environmental crisis and the demand for its address. By setting the root of this problem as a compass, humans direct their own needs, desires, and perceptions, expand their horizons, and are properly prepared to manage the plethora of innovations they encounter, evolve their desires and beliefs, and realize that the environment is the source of their life and therefore they must truly protect and cherish it!

Global warming is increasingly concerning scientists worldwide, as it is a phenomenon with catastrophic consequences for humans and nature, closely linked to the major environmental issue of climate change. Every year, most countries in the world are affected by extreme weather phenomena, which cost human lives and more. Devastating damages and consequences to the natural environment are disheartening, including the death of countless animals, destruction of forests, plants, and trees. However, the problem that concerns scientists more than ever lies in the alarming frequency and occurrence of these phenomena, as well as their unpredictability. Extreme high temperatures, deadly storms, and sweeping winds create serious problems in many parts of the planet, with a high cost to ecosystems and biodiversity. It is worth noting that in the last month, particularly high temperatures have been recorded in Europe and North America, with scientists expressing fear and uncertainty about the future, as well as the urgent need to curb the phenomenon. As a result of prolonged heatwaves, there is intense drought prevailing for a considerable period, leading to an increased risk of wildfires. Another direct consequence of the climate crisis is intense and frequent rainfall and storms, causing massive floods and frequent overflow in rivers and lakes, resulting in the deaths of many people, destruction of large ecosystems, and the deterioration of water resources’ quality.

Tourism is a pillar of economic development as it is an important activity that is intense both in winter and summer, generating significant income for our country’s annual budget. However, increased tourist activity, especially during the summer months, has significant impacts on the environment – the most important of which are water pollution, increased waste in island areas (solid and liquid), increased levels of atmospheric pollution, as well as the imprudent use and waste of energy to meet the needs of the increased population. There is also a noticeable phenomenon of overexploitation of coastal areas and their use mainly as shops, dining and entertainment spaces, and hotel units, intervening and significantly disrupting the natural environment. Thus, the term sustainable and sustainable development enters the tourism industry. The goal is to preserve the natural environment and biodiversity, as well as the preservation of the pristine natural beauty – where it exists – with minimal interventions to highlight these landscapes to the multitude of tourists who visit our country every year. Furthermore, within the framework of sustainable development, actions are implemented to preserve and highlight the cultural heritage of each place, to ensure and defend the value and benefits of the social whole – as an integral part and pillar of sustainable development – to implement land improvement projects for the protection of water and soil, to achieve smart and green solutions in the transportation sector, as well as to exploit and implement new projects and technologies for Renewable Energy Sources. Already since 2021, the Smart and Sustainable Island program for the island of Astypalaia – the first green and smart island in the Mediterranean – has been approved, thus paving the way towards climate neutrality, reducing carbon footprint, and promoting green development. The aim of the program is the replacement of vehicles with internal combustion engines with new electric vehicles whose required electrical energy is provided by purely Renewable Energy Sources, achieving complete energy autonomy in the transportation sector. The achievement of the new challenge for energy self-sufficiency of the island is realized through the design and installation of photovoltaic systems and a wind park, covering over 80% of the required energy. Another characteristic example of transition to green islands is Chalki, which was inaugurated as the 1st GR – eco Island in November, and Kythnos, which joined the GR – eco Islands initiative in June, with the aim of increased use of Renewable Energy Sources, sustainable development, as well as the promotion of digitization and technological advancement.

The production of electricity from Renewable Energy Sources, is now well established in our country. It is worth noting that Greece is ranked 3rd in Europe in terms of the percentage of electricity produced from Renewable Sources in Europe. The increased price of energy and the severe energy crisis indicate the immediate need for an increase in the total installed capacity from Renewable Sources.   In the previous year, photovoltaic systems were the leading Renewable Energy Sources in our country, where the total installed capacity exceeded 5,000 MWp, occupying about 85% of the total installed capacity from renewable energy sources.   The demand for natural gas in our country has also increased significantly, exceeding the price of 85 TWh, while new green investments are now largely focused on wind farms and biomass production plants, with the aim of substantially reducing CO2 prices, as the main source of its production comes from conventional fuels.   Finally, it is worth mentioning the California Effect, also known as the Duck Curve, as a major challenge in photovoltaic power generation. The phenomenon refers to the rapid decrease in electricity demand from the grid during the daytime – when the sunlight capacity is quite high – due to the increase in installed photovoltaic systems. The result of this is that the grid is putting both technological and economic pressure on the grid’s power plants to operate at reduced load during the day and to increase their capacity at times when there is no sunshine. This phenomenon is now observed in Greece and in many countries around the world, with governments being called upon to bring immediate solutions to make the most of the potential of photovoltaic systems. 

The urgent need of the energy transition and of getting rid of hydrocarbon fuels is reflected in the creation of new technologies and projects of Renewable Energy Sources. In addition to what we have known so far about Renewable Energy Sources (RES) projects, in recent years innovative ideas and new challenges have been presented in the field of energy, with projects of high specifications and requirements in terms of know-how and cost. Photovoltaic and wind farms, offshore and floating wind farms, hydrogen combustion technologies, are just some of the innovative projects that are pioneering this period in the energy sector, and bring the planet one step closer to climate neutrality. As these are projects and technologies that require high technical know-how but also very high costs, both during construction and installation as well as during their operation, a particularly important role is played by the assessment of the performance and the optimization of the above systems, using the programming, mathematical models and simulation software. Thus, through the modeling of the operational parameters of an energy system and their simulation with the use of special software, the performance and the payback time of a project are estimated. In particular, in cases where there is talk of large photovoltaic or wind parks, of modern technologies of wind turbines installed in water, where their construction is particularly complicated, the correct analysis and assessment of the many different parameters so that the system is efficient, is successfully done through the creation mathematical models and the introduction of all the necessary elements into modern models and simulation software. Also, optimizing systems and predicting major technical malfunctions is achieved with the help of programming, as we can extract results easily and quickly.

The phenomenon of air pollution and climate change has significantly concerned scientists around the world in recent decades. Especially in the period from the industrial revolution onwards, where the use of new technologies and machines resulted in a rapid increase in pollutants – especially greenhouse gases – the issue of environmental pollution became one of humanity’s greatest problems , with scientists of the time predicting a significant worsening of the phenomenon in the near future. Coming to today, actions to reduce the carbon footprint in major urban centers around the planet are constantly being strengthened with the implementation and design of new Renewable Energy Technologies. Scientists all over the planet are working hard and integrating new technologies in order to achieve the maximum possible utilization of energy sources, aiming for energy self-sufficiency and a significant reduction in the use of fossil fuels. These objectives are integrated into the action plan of the European Union which includes the preparation of studies and the implementation of innovative projects, as well as the creation of financial programs related to projects such as photovoltaic and wind parks, energy communities, etc. In this context, in Greece and throughout Europe, the term green economy and green entrepreneurship is dynamically coming to the fore. The green economy is based on people and the environment and aims to achieve the well-being of the individual within it. Thus both the European Investment Bank and various other financial institutions are proceeding to support and finance projects related to Green Energy. Especially in Greece, it seems that within the next few years, there will be a significant release of Green Bonds from the Banks in order to strengthen the integration goal of A.P.E., which is still quite low compared to the aspirations of the European Union. It is only worth noting that the percentage of use of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in terms of total household energy consumption is stable and varies between 8% and 9%. Nevertheless, a significant progress is presented regarding the production of thermal energy from A.P.E. where Greece seems to occupy the 2nd place in Europe in terms of installed solar panel surfaces, which is due to the significant increase of the solar panel industry in the country. However, to note development and progress in the field of A.P.E. the institutional framework but also the financial programs need to be strengthened, following the growth rates presented in the European area. Based on the Kyoto Protocol signed in 2008, all European countries are required to significantly reduce their carbon footprint due to harmful greenhouse gas emissions. This goal is summarized in the following plan: “zero emissions by 2050”, “50% reduction in CO2 prices by 2030”. But how is it possible to achieve this goal? In this context, the Just Energy Transition Fund is going to support both the countries that will face a problem in achieving the above goal, as well as the correct teaching of reducing and getting rid of the emitted carbon. The goals set by Europe are quite high, as an increased integration of RES is foreseen. up to 32% of the total amount of required energy consumption until 2030. The most obvious fact is that this is a fairly expensive process at all stages up to the achievement of a satisfactory transition to RES, presupposing public funding subsidized programs.

The main pillar of the goal of getting rid of fossil fuels and reducing the carbon contained in large urban centers is the integration of “clean fuels” and green energy. Green hydrogen is characterized by scientists around the world as the fuel of the future, and not without reason. It is a fuel produced through the electrolytic splitting of water using electricity from purely Renewable Sources. It is free from the harmful gases responsible for the greenhouse effect, and during its combustion the CO2 emissions are zero. The penetration of hydrogen into transport, industry and meeting the energy needs of building facilities has a decisive role in changing the energy system to a new, more environmentally friendly and climate neutral one. The efforts made by the countries of the European Union for the integration of hydrogen fuel, in order to achieve the energy transition and the reduction of the carbon footprint, are significantly strengthened by the various financial instruments and investment programs of the European Commission. The European Union’s “InvestEu” program, the European Regional Development Fund, the Cohesion Fund as well as the Innovation Fund of the ETS, through their funded actions, facilitate the development and promotion of new technologies for the use and total integration of hydrogen.