green-energy-39
green-energy-39

Renewable Energy Resources

Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources—such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat—which are renewable (naturally replenished). In 2006, about 18% of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, such as wood-burning. Hydroelectricity was the next largest renewable source, providing 3% of global energy consumption and 15% of global electricity generation.

Wind power is growing at the rate of 30 percent annually, with a worldwide installed capacity of 121,000 megawatts (MW) in 2008, and is widely used in European countries and the United States. The annual manufacturing output of the photovoltaics industry reached 6,900 MW in 2008, and photovoltaic (PV) power stations are popular in Germany and Spain. Solar thermal power stations operate in the USA and Spain, and the largest of these is the 354 MW SEGS power plant in the Mojave Desert. The world’s largest geothermal power installation is The Geysers in California, with a rated capacity of 750 MW. Brazil has one of the largest renewable energy programs in the world, involving production of ethanol fuel from sugar cane, and ethanol now provides 18 percent of the country’s automotive fuel. Ethanol fuel is also widely available in the USA. While most renewable energy projects and production is large-scale, renewable technologies are also suited to small off-grid applications, sometimes in rural and remote areas, where energy is often crucial in human development. Kenya has the world’s highest household solar ownership rate with roughly 30,000 small (20–100 watt) solar power systems sold per year.

Some renewable energy technologies are criticised for being intermittent or unsightly, yet the renewable energy market continues to grow. Climate change concerns coupled with high oil prices, peak oil and increasing government support are driving ncreasing renewable energy legislation, incentives and commercialization. New government spending, regulation, and policies should help the industry weather the 2009 economic crisis better than many other sectors. (Source: Wikipedia)

 

green-energy-39

Renewable Energy Resources

Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources—such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat—which are renewable (naturally replenished). In 2006, about 18% of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, such as wood-burning. Hydroelectricity was the next largest renewable source, providing 3% of global energy consumption and 15% of global electricity generation.

Wind power is growing at the rate of 30 percent annually, with a worldwide installed capacity of 121,000 megawatts (MW) in 2008, and is widely used in European countries and the United States. The annual manufacturing output of the photovoltaics industry reached 6,900 MW in 2008, and photovoltaic (PV) power stations are popular in Germany and Spain. Solar thermal power stations operate in the USA and Spain, and the largest of these is the 354 MW SEGS power plant in the Mojave Desert. The world’s largest geothermal power installation is The Geysers in California, with a rated capacity of 750 MW. Brazil has one of the largest renewable energy programs in the world, involving production of ethanol fuel from sugar cane, and ethanol now provides 18 percent of the country’s automotive fuel. Ethanol fuel is also widely available in the USA. While most renewable energy projects and production is large-scale, renewable technologies are also suited to small off-grid applications, sometimes in rural and remote areas, where energy is often crucial in human development. Kenya has the world’s highest household solar ownership rate with roughly 30,000 small (20–100 watt) solar power systems sold per year.

Some renewable energy technologies are criticised for being intermittent or unsightly, yet the renewable energy market continues to grow. Climate change concerns coupled with high oil prices, peak oil and increasing government support are driving ncreasing renewable energy legislation, incentives and commercialization. New government spending, regulation, and policies should help the industry weather the 2009 economic crisis better than many other sectors. (Source: Wikipedia)

 

Benefits of Renewable Energy

 

 

1) MSEs in general
SMEs are predominantly environmentally friendly energy investments. An ESU does not include a dam, but borrows water for a few hundred meters and releases it back into the river, with no environmental impact. These investments are considered at the global, European and national level as the number one priority for effectively addressing the worsening environmental and energy problems of mankind, as a major weapon in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and combating greenhouse gases.

During the construction phase of the project there are no environmental impacts, as the pipeline is buried and the soil is excavated using excavation products.
There are no negative environmental impacts during the operation of the projects as:
  • The projects have no dam and reservoir
  • No loads are withheld
  • The flood characteristics of the stream do not change
  • The quality of the water used does not deteriorate since no chemical processes are carried out during the production process and no waste of any kind is disposed of.
  • There is no question of free communication of the fish fauna because its movement is adequately addressed by the addition of a fish ladder to the aquifer.

Our country, on the other hand, has made several commitments to substitute electricity from renewable-energy combustion with green electricity. In particular, there is a national commitment under the Kyoto Protocol and EC Directive 2001/77 to cover 20% of the country’s primary electricity needs in 2010 from renewable energy sources.

Particularly technologically mature and cost-effective hydroelectricity has serious advantages (environmental, developmental, energy, etc.). The accumulated experience of the last 15 years, both internationally (in the European Union alone, over 40,000 MW of RES plants already operate), as well as in Greece, where about 550 MW of renewable energy already operate, it clearly shows, and beyond any doubt, that the establishment and operation of commercial-scale RES projects creates strong poles of local development and environmental upgrading and brings multiple, measurable and substantial benefits to local communities, in their local communities. these projects are installed.

 

2) Environmental protection
They play a key role in protecting the environment of a region, as they significantly reduce the emissions of pollutants that are harmful to the health of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas responsible for the greenhouse effect). It is recalled that the greenhouse effect is now considered, globally and locally, responsible – to a large extent – for excessively elevated temperatures, especially in summer, for increased drought (reduced levels of aquifers and surface waters). , but also to increase the intensity of the weather, such as sudden and devastating floods, etc. . Valid studies by the European Union have shown that a significant substitution of conventional fuels with renewable energy, already in the planning or implementation phase, could help reduce carbon dioxide emissions in electricity generation by at least 11%, and therefore reduce the adverse effects of the greenhouse effect.
3) Exploitation of domestic energy resources
One last, but very important, highlight on the environmental impact of local RES projects is the prospect of building and operating a domestic and renewable energy resource project cannot be dealt with in a vacuum environment. That is, any environmental impacts of RES projects cannot be considered by themselves alone and the choice is to “implement the project or not”. The real, reasonable choice is another, “to implement the specific RES or other energy source project” (eg lignite, coal, gas, etc.) to meet the given local, regional and local energy demand. national level. Within such a framework of integrated energy / development / environmental planning, the impacts of RES projects, their advantages and / or their disadvantages, should always be assessed, always comparing with the advantages and disadvantages of their alternatives. energy problem. Export (ie “unloading”) of the solution to another area, even at drastically increased environmental costs (see Ptolemais / Megalopolis and lignite)
green-energy-39
green-energy-39

Benefits of Renewable Energy

 

 

1) MSEs in general
SMEs are predominantly environmentally friendly energy investments. An ESU does not include a dam, but borrows water for a few hundred meters and releases it back into the river, with no environmental impact. These investments are considered at the global, European and national level as the number one priority for effectively addressing the worsening environmental and energy problems of mankind, as a major weapon in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and combating greenhouse gases.

During the construction phase of the project there are no environmental impacts, as the pipeline is buried and the soil is excavated using excavation products.
There are no negative environmental impacts during the operation of the projects as:
  • The projects have no dam and reservoir
  • No loads are withheld
  • The flood characteristics of the stream do not change
  • The quality of the water used does not deteriorate since no chemical processes are carried out during the production process and no waste of any kind is disposed of.
  • There is no question of free communication of the fish fauna because its movement is adequately addressed by the addition of a fish ladder to the aquifer.

Our country, on the other hand, has made several commitments to substitute electricity from renewable-energy combustion with green electricity. In particular, there is a national commitment under the Kyoto Protocol and EC Directive 2001/77 to cover 20% of the country’s primary electricity needs in 2010 from renewable energy sources.

Particularly technologically mature and cost-effective hydroelectricity has serious advantages (environmental, developmental, energy, etc.). The accumulated experience of the last 15 years, both internationally (in the European Union alone, over 40,000 MW of RES plants already operate), as well as in Greece, where about 550 MW of renewable energy already operate, it clearly shows, and beyond any doubt, that the establishment and operation of commercial-scale RES projects creates strong poles of local development and environmental upgrading and brings multiple, measurable and substantial benefits to local communities, in their local communities. these projects are installed.

 

2) Environmental protection
They play a key role in protecting the environment of a region, as they significantly reduce the emissions of pollutants that are harmful to the health of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas responsible for the greenhouse effect). It is recalled that the greenhouse effect is now considered, globally and locally, responsible – to a large extent – for excessively elevated temperatures, especially in summer, for increased drought (reduced levels of aquifers and surface waters). , but also to increase the intensity of the weather, such as sudden and devastating floods, etc. . Valid studies by the European Union have shown that a significant substitution of conventional fuels with renewable energy, already in the planning or implementation phase, could help reduce carbon dioxide emissions in electricity generation by at least 11%, and therefore reduce the adverse effects of the greenhouse effect.
3) Exploitation of domestic energy resources
One last, but very important, highlight on the environmental impact of local RES projects is the prospect of building and operating a domestic and renewable energy resource project cannot be dealt with in a vacuum environment. That is, any environmental impacts of RES projects cannot be considered by themselves alone and the choice is to “implement the project or not”. The real, reasonable choice is another, “to implement the specific RES or other energy source project” (eg lignite, coal, gas, etc.) to meet the given local, regional and local energy demand. national level. Within such a framework of integrated energy / development / environmental planning, the impacts of RES projects, their advantages and / or their disadvantages, should always be assessed, always comparing with the advantages and disadvantages of their alternatives. energy problem. Export (ie “unloading”) of the solution to another area, even at drastically increased environmental costs (see Ptolemais / Megalopolis and lignite)
green-energy-39
green-energy-39

Developmental Benefits

Based on the recorded data of the renewable RES projects in Greece, these projects:

Α) They make a significant contribution to local employment. Thus, for example, a typical small 2 MW hydroelectric project requires:

  • 120 man-months of employment in the construction phase. 30-40% of this employment comes from the local workforce.
  • 2 permanent workers in its operational phase, most of whom are locals.
  • It generates a lot of new income on the land to landowners, engineers, contractors, craftsmen, workers, notaries, lawyers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, traders, and more.

Β) The operation of RES projects provides a permanent and significant annual revenue to local municipalities (3% of their turnover) based on the current legislation and the local economy in general. So for example a typical 2 MW hydroelectric project:

  • It has a construction cost of approximately € 4 million, of which 30-40% is spent locally on construction, supplies, salaries in the construction phase, etc.
  • It has a turnover from the sale of electricity it generates, approximately 650 thousand Euros per year, of which (3%) is legally donated to local municipalities for the duration of the project.
  • It requires, for its operational needs, 45,000 – 60,000 Euros per year in local expenditure (local permanent staff salaries, local maintenance and repairs, etc.).

Γ) The construction of RES projects in one area is accompanied by the simultaneous realization of a series of offsetting benefits, in addition to direct and measurable financial inflows and job creation. So:

  • Major infrastructure projects in the wider area (road, telecommunications, electricity) are constructed and / or improved, at no cost to the public.
  • Various public works, such as community roads, are being constructed, as compensation (at no cost) for local municipalities, and offered by investors and similar sponsorships.

 

green-energy-39

Developmental Benefits

Based on the recorded data of the renewable RES projects in Greece, these projects:

Α) They make a significant contribution to local employment. Thus, for example, a typical small 2 MW hydroelectric project requires:

  • 120 man-months of employment in the construction phase. 30-40% of this employment comes from the local workforce.
  • 2 permanent workers in its operational phase, most of whom are locals.
  • It generates a lot of new income on the land to landowners, engineers, contractors, craftsmen, workers, notaries, lawyers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, traders, and more.

Β) The operation of RES projects provides a permanent and significant annual revenue to local municipalities (3% of their turnover) based on the current legislation and the local economy in general. So for example a typical 2 MW hydroelectric project:

  • It has a construction cost of approximately € 4 million, of which 30-40% is spent locally on construction, supplies, salaries in the construction phase, etc.
  • It has a turnover from the sale of electricity it generates, approximately 650 thousand Euros per year, of which (3%) is legally donated to local municipalities for the duration of the project.
  • It requires, for its operational needs, 45,000 – 60,000 Euros per year in local expenditure (local permanent staff salaries, local maintenance and repairs, etc.).

Γ) The construction of RES projects in one area is accompanied by the simultaneous realization of a series of offsetting benefits, in addition to direct and measurable financial inflows and job creation. So:

  • Major infrastructure projects in the wider area (road, telecommunications, electricity) are constructed and / or improved, at no cost to the public.
  • Various public works, such as community roads, are being constructed, as compensation (at no cost) for local municipalities, and offered by investors and similar sponsorships.

 

Greek Market

The Greek electricity market is highly concentrated and highly regulated, with ΔΕΗ having a market share of over 95%.
As a result of Greece’s nowadays low investment and geographic isolation (relatively limited interconnection with neighboring countries such as Bulgaria, Albania, FYROM, Italy and Turkey), electricity supply has not kept pace with increased demand and the Greek market faces a growing risk of electricity shortages. In an effort to open up the domestic market to competition and attract investment, the government has already launched a tender and plans two more to build a total of three generator units of about 400 MW each.

The total installed power generation capacity in Greece at 31/12/2006 was approximately 14,000 MW and consisted of 5,300 MW of lignite-fired power, 3,000 MW of power from large hydroelectric projects while the rest of the power came from natural gas units (approximately 2,500). MW), petroleum combustion plants (about 2,300 MW) as well as from RES. (878 MW).

At the end of 2006, the installed capacity in Greece amounted to 878 MW with the use of RES. (of which 745 MW came from wind power).

 

 

green-energy-39
green-energy-39

Greek Market

The Greek electricity market is highly concentrated and highly regulated, with ΔΕΗ having a market share of over 95%.
As a result of Greece’s nowadays low investment and geographic isolation (relatively limited interconnection with neighboring countries such as Bulgaria, Albania, FYROM, Italy and Turkey), electricity supply has not kept pace with increased demand and the Greek market faces a growing risk of electricity shortages. In an effort to open up the domestic market to competition and attract investment, the government has already launched a tender and plans two more to build a total of three generator units of about 400 MW each.

The total installed power generation capacity in Greece at 31/12/2006 was approximately 14,000 MW and consisted of 5,300 MW of lignite-fired power, 3,000 MW of power from large hydroelectric projects while the rest of the power came from natural gas units (approximately 2,500). MW), petroleum combustion plants (about 2,300 MW) as well as from RES. (878 MW).

At the end of 2006, the installed capacity in Greece amounted to 878 MW with the use of RES. (of which 745 MW came from wind power).