smart islands

Tender for smart islands pilot project planned for 2018

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Officials at DEDDIE/HEDNO (Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator), RAE (Regulatory Authority for Energy) and the energy ministry have expressed a determination to overcome various technical and institutional matters in order to stage a tender within 2018 for the installation of infrastructure and systems needed to create three smart islands as pilot projects.

The initiative’s objective will be to drastically increase the RES sector’s participation in electricity output to a level of over 60 percent of total annual demand on these islands, as a replacement for the fuel burnt at power stations on these islands.

DEDDIE/HEDNO has delivered a proposal for the tender’s procedure and terms but RAE, which will stage the tender, has yet to process this proposal.

One definite development is the selection of Astypalaia, Symi and Kastelorizo, as the three islands to be developed as pilot-project smart islands.

Meanwhile, meetings are currently being held at the energy ministry to determine issues requiring legislative revisions.

The flood of applications submitted by residents on the three islands for RES station installations is one issue that needs to be resolved. Many of these applications were submitted following an energy ministry leak of the islands chosen for the pilot project.

It is believed these applications will be rejected as otherwise the tender’s winning bidders will not be able to develop sustainable projects.

A legislative revision may be needed to ensure that just one RES investor will be involved on each of the three islands, rather than many.

RAE chose the three aforementioned islands – after considering an initial list of five – as they met requirements needed for the pilot project. Participating islands need to be medium-sized, offer production capacities of between 5 and 10 MW, have high fuel consumption levels at present as well as low RES penetration levels.

The installation of hybrid RES power stations, producing green energy and equipped with storage systems for unused energy, will be facilitated by the initiative. High-tech energy network management systems are also expected to be installed.

Private-sector investors will be invited to participate in the tender. Winning bidders will be remunerated for the energy produced by the projects they develop.

Foreign firms keen to take part in ‘smart islands’ pilot project

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Foreign corporate groups appear keen to take part in an upcoming pilot project concerning the development of two smart islands.

The initiative’s objective will be to drastically increase the RES sector’s participation in electricity output to a level of between 60 and 70 percent of total annual demand on these islands and also implement the use of high-tech systems to lower operating costs and support environmetal protection.

The two islands have yet to be determined while the Greek government has yet to announce a related tender.

According to energypress sources, French, Chinese, German and Spanish firms have made early moves seeking preliminary information as they are confident the project will deliver satisfactory investment returns.

The effort’s preparations are at an advanced stage. RAE, the Regulatory Authority for Energy, is expected to stage an international tender for the smart islands projects in 2018. Also, a study being conducted by HEDNO/DEDDIE, the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator, to include selections of the two participating islands, is scheduled to be completed and delivered to RAE by the end of next month.

Five islands – Amorgos, Patmos, Skyros, Symi and Astypalaia – are currently being considered. Astypalaia is expected to be one of the two.

The energy ministry will decide on the two islands to participate in the smart islands pilot project. Island size will be a key criterion in the selection process. Participating islands will need to be medium-sized, offer production capacities of between 5 and 10 MW, high fuel consumption levels at present, as well as low RES penetration levels.

Once the two islands are chosen by the energy ministry RAE will launch an international tender.

Hybrid power stations with RES units are expected to be developed on the two islands to be selected. These facilities will be combined with an appropriate storage system and a high-tech energy network management system.

Investors stand to make their profit from the sale of electricity produced by the projects they have developed.

 

 

Key speakers at Smart Islands and Small Cities event in Athens Feb 22-23

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Prominent speakers from Greece and other parts of Europe will take part in Smart Islands and Small Cities, a conference organized by the Aegean Energy & Environment Agency, the Network of Sustainable Greek Islands (DAFNI) and energypress for February 22 and 23 at the Ionic Center (11 Lysiou, Plaka, Athens).

The conference is being held under the auspices of the energy ministry, to be represented by energy minister Giorgos Stathakis and secretary general Mihalis Veriopoulos.

Speakers include Wioletta Dunin-Majewska, European Commission Policy Coordinator, Retail Markets, Directorate General for Energy; Willebrordus Sluijters, DG for Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission; Eugenia Kazamaki Ottersten, Head of Smart Development Division, JASPERS, European Investment Bank; Lada Strelnikova, Director, Deutsche Asset Management, Investment Advisor, European Energy Efficiency Fund; and Marc Pons Pons, Regional Minister for Land Use, Energy and Mobility, Regional Government of Balearic Islands.

A speech by Panayiotis Tournavitis, General Manager at Cooperative Bank of Karditsa, arguably Greece’s most active cooperative bank with an extensive track record in supporting local green project development investments, is being eagerly anticipated.

So, too, are speeches by the mayors of Rethymno, Kalamata, Halkida, Elefsina, Velestino and Katerini, representing provincial Greek cities that have taken pioneering “urban innovation” initiatives in the fields of energy, transportation, public lighting, use of electric cars, as well as other public services.

Last but not least, announcements expected from Nikolaos Hatziargyriou, President and CEO at the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (HEDNO/DEDDIE), to focus on the Smart Islands program, and Konstantinos Varlamitis, President at the Consignment Deposits and Loans Fund, to discuss subsidies and loans extended by the fund for local government projects and studies, should be interesting.

 

Key speakers at upcoming ‘Smart Islands and Small Cities’ conference

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Smart Islands and Small Cities – Policies, Technologies, Financing Solutions & Good Practices, a conference organized by the Aegean Energy & Environment Agency, the Network of Sustainable Greek Islands (DAFNI) and energypress for February 22 and 23 at the Ionic Center (11 Lysiou, Plaka, Athens) will feature many prominent speakers from Greece and other parts of Europe.

Held under the auspices of the energy ministry, to be represented by energy minister Giorgos Stathakis and secretary general Mihalis Veriopoulos, the event will focus on smart technology development and support (technical and financial) for the country’s islands and small cities through national and European financing solutions and programs.

Visiting speakers include: Wioletta Dunin-Majewska, European Commission Policy Coordinator, Retail Markets, Directorate General for Energy; Willebrordus Sluijters, DG for Regional and Urban Policy, European Commission; Eugenia Kazamaki Ottersten, Head of Smart Development Division, JASPERS, European Investment Bank; Lada Strelnikova, Director, Deutsche Asset Management, Investment Advisor, European Energy Efficiency Fund; and Marc Pons Pons, Regional Minister for Land Use, Energy and Mobility, Regional Government of Balearic Islands.

A speech by Panayiotis Tournavitis, General Manager at Cooperative Bank of Karditsa, perhaps Greece’s most active cooperative bank with an extensive track record in supporting local green project development investments, should be interesting.

The mayors of Rethymno, Kalamata, Halkida, Elefsina, Velestino and Katerini, representing provincial Greek cities that have taken pioneering “urban innovation” initiatives in the fields of energy, transportation, public lighting, and use of electric cars, will also deliver speeches.

Other local participants will include Kostas Komninos, Director, Network of Sustainable Greek Islands DAFNI; Nikolaos Hatziargyriou, President & CEO, Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator; and Vassilis Nikolopoulos, CEO, INTELEN Inc., Greece.