Athens, April 24, 2024 - The Institute of Energy for South East Europe (IENE) held a successful one-day conference entitled "Are the Energy Transition Targets for Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Efficiency an Opportunity or an Obstacle?" at the modern facilities of OTE Academy on 18 AprilAthens, April 24, 2024 - The Institute of Energy for South East Europe (IENE) held a successful one-day conference entitled "Are the Energy Transition Targets for Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Efficiency an Opportunity or an Obstacle?" at the modern facilities of OTE Academy on 18 April.
The conference examined the much-touted sector of renewable energy sources (RES) and energy efficiency from a perspective that remains largely outside the public debate: the effectiveness of the "green" targets set by the EU in general and our country in particular. Dozens of influential figures from both the public and private sectors were present, sharing their knowledge, expertise, and assessment on this crucial issue.
After the introductory remarks by the Chairman of IENE, Mr. Costis Stambolis, the conference was officially opened by the Secretary General of Energy & Mineral Resources of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, Aristotle Aivaliotis.
Welcoming speeches were also given by Professor John Maniatis, former Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change, and also by Professor Dimitrios Fourlaris, 2nd Vice President of the Regulatory Authority for Waste, Energy and Water (RAΑΕΥ) via Zoom, as well as the Chairman of The Board and CEO of the Administrator of Renewable Energy Sources and Guarantees of Origin (DAPEEP), Ioannis Giarendis.
As acknowledged by all speakers, the development of renewable energy sources (RES) in Greece has progressed rapidly, especially since 2019, largely due to government initiatives. However, significant delays stemming from longstanding bureaucratic issues have arisen. Despite these challenges, the licensing, construction, and implementation of RES projects are advancing at a fast pace, surpassing current energy demand in Greece. Consequently, surplus production cannot be effectively stored and is often exported at prices approaching or below zero. This market imbalance, termed 'market cannibalism' by speakers, has not deterred investors, although their profit margins are shrinking, primarily due to electricity offloading. Presentations at the IENE conference identified solar photovoltaic as the primary culprit to the oversupply, underscoring the necessity of adjusting the energy mix to place greater emphasis on wind energy.
In addition to wind energy, which presents numerous untapped opportunities for Greece, speakers discussed various other renewable energy technologies capable of facilitating the green transition. Geothermal energy, bioenergy, green hydrogen, heat pumps, and combined heat and power were among the methods highlighted, all of which could be readily adopted by Greek producers and consumers with appropriate incentives. It was commonly assumed that all these technologies require corresponding storage infrastructure to succeed. The importance of storage facilities, which have been underdeveloped in Greece, was emphasized by many speakers. Several pointed out that achieving the green transition is impossible without effective energy storage.
During the event, attendees were presented with a comprehensive overview Greece's green transition, encompassing both challenges and opportunities. On one hand, longstanding issues such as excessive bureaucracy, inadequate planning, and lack of information were discussed. On the other hand, Greece's favorable attributes, including its strategic geographical location, skilled workforce, and abundant energy resources, were highlighted. Several speakers emphasized the importance of generating added value for the Greek economy and for the industry through renewable energy sources (RES). They stressed the necessity of establishing an integrated value chain to bolster Greek enterprises and foster job creation.
Energy efficiency in buildings through the use of heat pumps was another issue that was examined in the context of the IENE Conference. Particular emphasis was placed on the prospects for the energy upgrading of buildings at a time when energy poverty, both in Greece and in the EU as a whole, is an increasing problem for a large part of the population. In this context, it was assessed whether the objectives of the NEPC regarding energy efficiency and green building are feasible. The use of artificial intelligence and smart applications to improve energy efficiency was also discussed.
Among the distinguished speakers, the Conference was attended by Andreas Petropouleas, Energy Management Director at ELPEDISON, Stelios Loumakis, President of the Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Energy Producers, President of SPEF, Panagiotis Papastamatiou, General Manager of HWEA, Elias Kakiopoulos, Secretary General of Greek Association of Micro Hydro Power, Dimitrios Zafeiropoulos, Vice Chairman of the Forena Energy Board, Antonios Kontoleon, Chairman of the Board of Directors of UNICEN, Dimitris Kardomateas, President and Director General of CRES, Giannis Charalambidis, Head of Renewable Energy Sources & Storage Division of RAAEY, Kyriakos Stratakos, Head of Business Development and Operational Excellence of Motor Oil Renewable Energy, Mikelis Hatzigakis, CEO of Hexicon S.A, Panagiotis Stamoulis, Commercial Manager of Sunlight Group, Konstantinos Theophylactos, Secretary General of IENE and Chairman of the Institute's Energy Efficiency Committee, and Alice Korovesi, CEO of INZEB.
Sponsors of this IENE Conference were Elpedison and R-Energy1, while supporters included the Giannini Law Firm, EnSCo, Forena Energy and Sunlight. The communication sponsors were NE Global Media, το Energia.gr and Liberal.gr.
