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The decision-making process regarding the choice of alternative energy technologies is multidimensional, made up of a number of aspects at different levels, economic, technical, environmental and social. This paper uses a multicriteria decision making model, PROMETHEE II, to determine the best fuel mix for electricity generation in an isolated Greek island, Lesvos. Having analyzed the energy profile of the island, a set of 7 energy policy scenarios are determined and assessed against economic, technical, environmental and social criteria. The energy policy scenarios include the use of conventional fuels, wind energy and natural gas, in its liquid form, liquefied natural gas (LNG). Weighting of criteria is carried out according to three different perspectives, each one focusing on sustainability, economic and environmental/social benefits. Two sensitivity analyses are performed taking into account the fluctuations of the electricity demand and the fluctuations of the fuel prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper aims at providing useful insights into tourists’ preferences for choosing to stay in hotels equipped with Energy Saving Installations (ESI) and Renewable Energy Sources (RES). Factors related to these decisions were studied through 2308 face to face interviews taken at the departure terminals of the two international airports of Crete, Greece. Results show that 86% of the respondents would prefer to stay in hotels equipped with ESI, and 87% in hotels with RES, rather than staying in hotels of identical quality which do not have either ESI or RES. Furthermore, the percentages of respondents who would be willing to pay fee surcharges for a hotel equipped with ESI or RES are 75 and 77%, respectively, as compared to hotels of identical quality which do not have either ESI or RES. Tourists from countries with high energy awareness, prove to be more willing to choose to stay at and pay for hotels with ESI and RES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: For Greece the target set by the Kyoto Protocol foresees an increase of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions by up to 25% for the period 2008–2012, always with respect to 1990 levels. Apparently it is hard to achieve this target, because the current trend of emissions leads roughly to doubling the rate of increase, than to reducing it. Consequently, further support actions are required, in order to enhance the effort needed so that the country will manage to fulfill its commitments. The present paper aims at the evaluation of the existing situation and the suggestion of further actions required in the energy sector, and particularly in the exploitation of renewable energy technologies (RETs), in order to achieve the obligations that Greece has undertaken as far as the reduction of GHG emissions is concerned, in accordance to the European and international Greek commitments. The current analysis is based on the recent available data from official Greek institutions such as the relevant Ministries, the Managing Authority of the Operational Programme Competitiveness and related European institutions. Based on the results of the current study the implementation of RETs’ investments for the period 2000–2006 is estimated to cover, at best, 50% of the share corresponding to the energy sector for the national target of reducing GHG emissions. In order to achieve to a full extent the target up to 2010, an additional investment cost of some 740M€ will be needed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper examines four mutually exclusive scenarios for the expansion of the Greek electricity system developed by official authorities and representing alternative views on meeting electricity demand. The aim is to encompass all positive and negative side-effects characterizing the electricity generation technologies assumed to participate in each scenario and emphasis is given to the particular role of renewable energy sources which represent a major differentiating factor between them. The calculation of economic, technical and environmental performances of the examined scenarios for the year 2010 shows that electricity planning is a complicated task since improvements in one policy target are accompanied by losses in others. In order to resolve this conflict, the scenarios are comparatively evaluated with two decision support techniques, multicriteria decision analysis and cost–benefit analysis, which are capable of broadening the strict boundaries of a financial analysis while avoiding intuitive solutions that are often applied in practice. Following the two completely different evaluation approaches, it is confirmed that the scenario assuming the highest penetration of renewable energy sources is the best compromise configuration for the Greek power generation sector. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]