GR – eco islands: The Green Transition Initiative

The GR-eco island initiative creates great opportunities for the small Aegean and Ionian islands to green their energy mix, upgrade transport infrastructure, waste management, lighting and provide significantly lower electricity bills for residents and businesses. , inaugurated on Friday by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Halki and the Carboniferous Fund of the islands.

In total, the two initiatives raise funds of around 3 billion Euros with sources of funding from European and state funds, as well as private companies that are invited to contribute – as was the case in Halki – to the cost of travel to the islands. The programs are addressed to all the islands, but the beginning will be from the smallest and most remote ones. Mr. Mitsotakis already sent an invitation from Halki to the other island Municipalities on Friday “to follow this example, to create, with our support, their own Energy Communities and in turn to join the GR – eco islands initiative” , emphasizing that those who move first in this direction will also have an advantage in attracting tourists.

In relation to the Carbonation Fund, the next step, as the Minister of Environment and Energy Costas Skrekas points out, is the presentation of the actions to the European Commission and the securing of the approval in order to negotiate with the European Investment Bank to participate in the co-financing. The Commission has already approved the financing of the Greek islands for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions within the framework of the overall “Fair Development Transition Program” addressed to the lignite areas of Western Macedonia and Megalopolis. The Fund ‘s main source of funding is revenue from carbon emissions auctions.

The GR – eco islands initiative mobilizes resources from all Funds, Programs and general sources of funding such as NSRF 2021-2027, Fair Transition Mechanism, (European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development), Recovery Fund.

As noted in a relevant information note “The GR-eco islands initiative comes to build on the experience and very useful conclusions, from pilot projects implemented or being implemented in the energy-based sector on individual islands, such as those in Tilos, Ai-Stratis or in Astypalea. “An attempt is being made to create a common framework through which all the Greek islands, starting from the smallest, will be able to participate in the green transition that is taking place, ultimately being role models for other European regions and countries.”

The interventions focus on the following pillars:

In the field of Energy, the main goal is to achieve Energy and Climate Neutrality. This will be achieved with the maximum utilization of Renewable Sources, through hybrid power generation systems, energy storage, hydrogen production, the increase of energy savings in the building sector but also in all areas of activity such as tourism, etc.

In the same vein, electricity is a priority in Transport, including road and maritime transport, which is accompanied by the need to develop the necessary alternative fuel infrastructure.

In the field of connectivity of the islands, the development of new and the modernization of existing port and other infrastructures, the modernization of the fleet of the coastal network that serve intra-island routes are preferred.

The sector of the circular economy includes the issues of solid and liquid waste management, and the field of water resources management, where the aim is to ensure universal access to sufficient and good quality water, including the development of environmentally friendly desalination solutions.

In the field of Tourism, the interventions are expected to be complementary and cumulative. Both interventions for green energy and improving energy efficiency, as well as interventions in sustainable mobility, are expected to change the image of the islands, giving it a “green” profile and thus enhancing their attractiveness to those who want to visit them.