Clean energy transition to develop Kos into a “green island”

The clean energy transition of the island of Kos is planned by municipality of Kos which is already actively moving in this direction, hoping that there will soon be positive results for the benefit of the local community.

In this context, an online conference was held for the presentation of the Clean Energy Transition Plan of Kos with the participation of the mayor Theodosis Nikitaras and representatives from the Clean Energy Secretariat of the European Commission and KOPE (Center for Renewable Energy Sources).

The municipality of Kos, as Mr. Nikitaras points out to APE-MBE, joined the program of the Secretariat of the European Commission “CLEAN ENERGY FOR EU ISLANDS”, which concerns the planning of the island to achieve the goal of clean energy transition.

“The aforementioned program is an opportunity for Kos to plan ways of energy autonomy and its evolution into a “green” destination, with the parallel goal of improving the standard of living of residents and visitors,” points out the mayor of Kos.

“The Clean Energy Transition Plan concerns the entire area of ​​the island and combines initiatives that will contribute decisively to the energy impact, both in existing and future projects. With a formulated strategy that will meet the needs of Kos and ensure the protection of the environment”, the special partner of the mayor of Kos, Despina Sapoulidou, a spatial planning, urban planning and regional development engineer and a member of the project’s working group, says to APE-MPE.

In his introduction, the mayor Theodosis Nikitaras characterized as a significant success for Kos its inclusion in the program of the European Clean Energy Secretariat of the European Commission and emphasized that “through the preparation of an integrated energy transition plan, Kos can achieve a reduction of its environmental footprint, become “green island” and to be able to develop both economically and socially, having a fully formed strategy that will meet its needs and ensure the protection of the environment”.

At the same time, the mayor of Kos added that:

“Within the development of the integrated energy transition plan for Kos through this program, the following results are expected and desired:

• Creation of an energy strategy

• Economic and social development of the island through its transformation into a “green island” while protecting the environment

• Increased investment interest in the energy sector, beyond tourism

• Study and construction of new energy-related projects

• Creating new jobs

• Raising awareness of residents and visitors about environmental issues

• Stabilization of energy, telecommunications and internet networks

• Reduction of the environmental footprint

• Ensuring a diversified economy (essentially, the island will not rely exclusively on tourism, which can be easily affected, e.g.: earthquake, migration flows, pandemic, etc.)

• Promotion of the island both at European and global level

• Securing the future energy needs of Kos by gaining a control over local sources of alternative energy production

• Reduction and gradual elimination of Kos’ dependence on fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, including transport) by replacing them with alternative and other sustainable energy sources

• Energy upgrade of the building stock of Kos

• Providing low-cost energy to all businesses in order to create employment on the island.

• Facilitation and at least partial initiative and research and development projects in sustainable energy.

• Possibility of applying the Kos energy transition plan to other islands with similar characteristics

The aforementioned are key points in the vision we have for our island and in the development we wish it to have socially, economically and in general in all sectors. The creation of the energy transition plan can be an additional subject of academic study and attract Universities, Research Institutions and other academic bodies, both inside and outside Greece, creating an “energy island model” for the European and global community”.

RES-EMP

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