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Featured Application: The described methodology can be utilized to simulate and optimize microgrids with similar or desired designs, with the objective of assessing the logistical and environmental performance indicators of their operations. European islands have been leading the charge in renewable energy innovation. Yet, the intermittent nature of sources like solar and wind poses challenges such as grid saturation and frequency variations. Limited interconnection with mainland grids exacerbates these issues, necessitating backup from conventional power sources during low-production periods. Until 2021, Crete operated independently, but new infrastructure now integrates it with the Greek mainland grid, facilitating swift energy transfers. This integration enables surplus power from Crete's solar and wind systems to be transmitted to the mainland and vice versa. However, reliance on remote power production exposes the island to market fluctuations and distant disruptions, impacting electricity production. Storage technologies offer a solution, enhancing renewable energy penetration while reducing carbon emissions. Green hydrogen, a rising storage method, shows promise in offsetting carbon emissions. Its clean-burning nature minimizes environmental impact and reduces reliance on costly and harmful conventional sources. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of achieving carbon-neutral electricity production in Crete, Greece, using hydrogen storage to offset annual carbon emissions in a financially viable and sustainable manner. Hydrogen's clean-burning properties reduce environmental impact and lessen dependence on expensive and environmentally harmful conventional sources. The methodology prioritizes the independence of the Cretan electricity system, utilizing electrolysis to produce green hydrogen and proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells for energy generation. It investigates the optimal expansion of renewable energy systems, including photovoltaic (PV) and wind turbine (WT) parks, alongside the installation of hydrogen storage, under specific assumptions. This proposed installation aims to achieve both island independence and profitability, requiring an additional expansion in PV capacity of 2.13 GW, WT capacity of 3.55 GW, and a hydrogen system with electrolyzer and fuel cell capacities totaling 278.83 MW each, along with a hydrogen tank capacity of 69.20 MWh. The investment entails a capital expenditure (CAPEX) of 6,516,043,003.31 EUR for a nearly zero net present value (NPV) over 20 years. However, carbon neutrality cannot be attained through this optimal solution alone, as relying solely on carbon sequestration from olive groves, the primary crop cultivated on the island, is insufficient as a carbon sink method. The annual net carbon emissions from electricity production, island transport, residential heating, and carbon sequestration are estimated at 94,772.22 tCO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve sustainable development, the energy transition from lignite burning to renewable energy resources for electric power generation is essential for Greece. Wind and solar energy have emerged as significant sources in this transition. Surprisingly, numerous studies have examined the potential for onshore wind based on land eligibility, while few studies on open-field photovoltaic (PV) installations have been conducted. Therefore, based on the Specific Framework for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development for Renewable Energy Sources (SFSPSD-RES), along with insights from previous relevant studies, this work conducts a land eligibility analysis of onshore wind and open-field PV installations in Greece using the software Geospatial Land Availability for Energy Systems (GLAES 1.2.1) and ArcGIS 10.2. Additionally, through an in-depth exploration of wind and solar PV energy potential in decommissioned lignite mines integrated with wind power density (WPD) and global horizontal irradiation (GHI) maps, this study compares the suitability of wind versus solar as energy sources for the decarbonization of Greece. Overall, despite the greater spatial eligibility for onshore wind turbines compared to open-field PV power plants, the relatively lower wind energy potential and operational limitations of wind turbines lead to the study's conclusion that solar energy (PV) is more suitable for the decarbonization of Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing self-sufficient renewable energy systems is becoming a key issue in the energy sector due to modern energy goals. Due to the variability of renewable energy sources, very often it is necessary to adopt hybrid configurations of renewable energy systems and advanced energy storage to achieve self-sufficiency. However, the adoption of complex and novel systems, including technologies as photovoltaic, wind turbines, biomass gasifiers, hydrogen energy storage, must to be founded on a comprehensive analysis of the system operation under different conditions and its energy and economic performance in the investigated case study. Therefore, the aim of the present paper is carry out a comprehensive feasibility analysis of a novel hybrid renewable energy system achieving a high self-sufficiency level. The system integrates a wind turbine and photovoltaic panels to match the energy load of a tourist resort in Agkistro, Greece. Energy exceeding the load is directed to the energy storage system based on the battery and hydrogen tank. As backup energy source, a wood gasifier is used. The investigation is performed by means of a numerical model developed in TRNSYS software allowing one to simulate dynamically the system and to assess its energy and economic performance. The goal achieved during the simulation of the system was to ensure at least 97% of energy demand from renewable sources. Moreover, a parametric analysis of the storage system is presented. It is found that payback period of the installation varies in the range between 11 and 15 years, for systems configurations allowing to satisfy 90–98% of the users energy yearly demand from renewables. The achieved results allows one to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed system from both an energy and economic point of view. • Island energy systems in Greece. • Hybrid energy system with both battery and hydrogen energy storage. • 97% reduction of energy produced from fossil fuels with 30% of energy curtailed. • Parametric study concerning sizes of the energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, with the need for clean and sustainable energy at its historical peak, new equipment, strategies, and methods have to be developed to reduce environmental pollution. Drastic steps and measures have already been taken on a global scale. Renewable energy sources (RESs) are being installed with a growing rhythm in the power grids. Such installations and operations in power systems must also be economically viable over time to attract more investors, thus creating a cycle where green energy, e.g., green hydrogen production will be both environmentally friendly and economically beneficial. This work presents a management method for assessing wind–solar–hydrogen (H2) energy systems. To optimize component sizing and calculate the cost of the produced H2, the basic procedure of the whole management method includes chronological simulations and economic calculations. The proposed system consists of a wind turbine (WT), a photovoltaic (PV) unit, an electrolyzer, a compressor, a storage tank, a fuel cell (FC), and various power converters. The paper presents a case study of green hydrogen production on Sifnos Island in Greece through RES, together with a scenario where hydrogen vehicle consumption and RES production are higher during the summer months. Hydrogen stations represent H2 demand. The proposed system is connected to the main power grid of the island to cover the load demand if the RES cannot do this. This study also includes a cost analysis due to the high investment costs. The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and the cost of the produced H2 are calculated, and some future simulations correlated with the main costs of the components of the proposed system are pointed out. The MATLAB language is used for all simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This article explores the energy literacy of pre-service primary school teachers in Greece. The study found that the teachers had moderate knowledge of energy concepts but demonstrated positive attitudes and behaviors towards energy conservation. Women and those with a science or technology background performed better in certain dimensions of energy literacy. The study emphasizes the need for improved energy education in schools and suggests integrating energy concepts into curricula. The article also provides information on energy resources and environmental impacts in Greece. Additionally, a list of references is included, which covers research on energy literacy and sustainability in various countries. [Extracted from the article]

The phenomena of climate change transcend all national and regional boundaries. To address this complex challenge, wemust determine the areas of the country of interest, in this case, Greece, that have been most adversely affected by climate. Greece is surrounded by water, and a significant part of its GDP is derived fromthe marine andmaritime industries, including tourism. Since the start of the IntelComp project, a Preparatory Living Lab (PLL) has been planned and delivered, feeding into the development of the IntelComp platform and the Living Lab on Climate Change Adaptation. The study's results lead to the conclusion that one of themost important challenges in tackling climate change is the decarbonisation challenge, specifically the shift to renewable energy sources and the investments that must be made. Several EU and national policy frameworks, including the European Green Deal, the Climate Law, the National Long-term Strategy for 2050 (on the Climate and Energy), highlight the decarbonisation as one of themajor challenges in the climate change pledge. This will be the primary subject of the IntelComp climate change case study. PLLs also led to the identification of policy questions and useful data sources to aid the IntelComp project's launch. While previous research on co-production has primarily focused on involving citizens through public participation processes in order to gain their support, trust, and insights in structured decision-making processes, our approach opens a new channel for incorporating external knowledge into problem-solving processes. The IntelComp project will aid in policy development by providing pertinent tools co-developed with the final users that will provide insights and analysis in the field of STI (Science, Technology, Innovation) encompassing all of the Energy areas mentioned above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale integration of renewable energy sources introduces high levels of uncertainty in power systems. In addressing the inherent uncertainty of renewables, coupling with energy storage systems allows for improved dispatchability, not only in terms of power system integration but also in terms of market participation. To that end, we currently look into the coupling of wind energy and energy storage and assess the ex-post value of different, day-ahead market related wind–storage narratives. In doing so, we apply practical dispatch strategies using empirical market signals, vary the size of storage, and adopt different cycling patterns, treating the configurations examined as price-taker units. In addition, by integrating different wind regimes and several years of spot price series, we argue that our approach captures different spatial and temporal characteristics; thus, offering a broad, representative view of the value and associated risk of similar market scenarios in the study area of Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decades, the penetration of renewable energy sources is growing at a significant pace on a global scale. In parallel, the utilization of renewables could possibly act as the basis for the transition to a Circular Economy, which aims to reduce the use of finite resources. Compared to other European countries, Greece has achieved a significant share of renewables in its' energy mix and in parallel promotes various policies aiming to accomplish zero-carbon emissions by 2050. An important element of this procedure is the broader acceptance of renewables by the public. This paper investigates this concept by capturing citizens' view on renewable energy sources along with the overall concept of Circular Economy in Greece. By implementing a questionnaire analysis, empirical findings capture the intention of citizens to further develop and invest on renewable energy. Besides, our analysis identifies that as education level increases, the willingness to pay more for renewables and their acceptance from the public increases, as well. Finally, empirical findings indicate that Greek citizens are aware of the concept and the benefits arising from Circular Economy, yet additional efforts need to be addressed for the growth of this concept in Greece. • The study captures citizens' view on RES and Circular Economy in Greece. • Participants are aware and sensitive on environmental and climate change issues. • Participants accepted the existence of RES and are willing to pay additional cost. • As the level of education increased, willingness to pay for RES also increased. • Additional efforts need to be addressed for the growth of Circular Economy in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydropower plays an essential role in Europe's energy transition and can serve as an important factor in the stability of the electricity system. This is even more crucial in areas that rely strongly on renewable energy production, for instance, solar and wind power, as for example the Peloponnese and the Ionian islands in Greece. To safeguard hydropower's contribution to total energy production, an accurate prediction of the annual precipitation is required. Valuable tools to obtain accurate predictions of future observations are firstly a series of sophisticated data preprocessing techniques and secondly the use of advanced machine learning algorithms. In the present paper, a complete procedure is proposed to obtain accurate predictions of meteorological data, such as precipitation. This procedure is applied to the Greek automated weather stations network, operated by the National Observatory of Athens, in the Peloponnese and the Ionian islands in Greece. The proposed prediction algorithm successfully identified the climatic zones based on their different geographic and climatic characteristics for most meteorological stations, resulting in realistic precipitation predictions. For some stations, the algorithm underestimated the annual total precipitation, a weakness also reported by other research works. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold stress in sheep is usually overlooked, even though the animals' welfare and productivity are affected by low temperatures. The aim of this research was to find out if and to what extent the temperature inside a sheep barn could be maintained within the range of the thermoneutral zone during winter, primarily to increase feed conversion and to reduce GHG emissions. For this reason, an automation system was installed at a sheep barn in northern Greece, and heat losses from the building were calculated. The biogas potential of the sheep barn waste was examined in the laboratory via the BMP method. The results showed that the installation of an automation system together with a hypothetical biogas heating system could maintain the barn's temperature in the range of a sheep's thermoneutral zone during winter for the 94% of the scenarios examined if the total energy of the biogas was utilized, while heating energy that was instantly and continuously used succeeded in 48% of the investigated cases. The surplus of energy produced by biogas could potentially raise the water temperature that animals drink up to 2.9 °C. The absence of cold stress decreases the dry matter intake and the CH4 produced by ruminal fermentation. Moreover, lower GHG emissions are achieved as waste is treated through anaerobic digestion, which would likely be released into the environment if left untreated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disadvantages of fossil fuels and their impact on the environment have made the transition to renewable energy sources essential to cover our energy needs. However, different energy resources have a different impact on energy poverty conditions in the world, an issue that is important to examine and properly address. This study examines the impact that fossil fuels final energy consumption in households per capita and renewables and biofuels final energy consumption in households per capita have on energy poverty conditions in Europe, using panel data from 28 European countries for the time period 2004–2019 and static and dynamic regression models, while also performing various econometric tests. The findings indicate that GDP per capita and fossil fuels are linked to an inverse relationship to energy poverty conditions. Renewables and biofuels are also linked to an inverse relationship to the inability to keep homes adequately warm and the presence of leaks, damp, or rot in the dwelling, but they could be considered a driver of arrears on utility bills. In addition, a comparative analysis between Sweden, Germany, and Greece and their conditions on energy poverty and energy transition was conducted, highlighting the differences existing between the three European countries. The findings of the research can be useful for governments and policy makers to develop strategies that promote energy transition while protecting energy consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy sector in Greece has been undergoing multiple processes of diversification, privatization and neoliberal restructuring, following EU imperatives for common energy market and metabolized by fast-track policies of the indebted state. Based on long ethnographic fieldwork in the main coal-mining region of Greece, this article discusses the energopolitics of austerity linking the state-backed logics of accumulation to the lived experience of energy producers and consumers. The expropriation of surrounding-the-mine villages, the growing transformation of public/communal/private land into photovoltaic parks and the very directions of imagining the future fuel multiscalar social and moral struggles. These reveal not only the horizontal integration of nature into capital valorization, though – albeit reduced – coal production and the spectacular investment to renewable energy ventures, but also the vertical processes of subsumption, enabled by financial engineering and rent-extraction. The model of energy transition rests on an uneven regime of ecological distribution that shapes but also exploits growing intra-class conflicts, propelled by the very contradictory nature of public power companies within each historical capitalist moment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the EU countries, Greece relies heavily on coal the most, and it has lagged behind in cutting emissions. Further, following the oil crisis of the 1970s, Greece has strategically invested in lignite. Solid fossil fuels such as lignite are classified as fossil fuels that are detrimental to environmental performance. This continued burning of fossil fuels has emerged as one of the most serious concerns in Greece, even globally. The aim is to capture the effect of energy productivity on carbon dioxide emissions (CO2E) in Greece while controlling trade openness, energy consumption, and economic growth. Toward this end, we employ a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model and other econometric robust techniques. The findings of the study are as follows: (i) trade openness positively impacts carbon emissions growth; (ii) economic growth adds to increased CO2E; (iii) expanding energy productivity is beneficial to the environment as it causes CO2E to decline; and (iv) increase in energy consumptions further results in CO2 cutbacks. The recommendation of our study suggests some innovative policies to counter the detrimental effects of carbon emissions by an increase in energy efficiency for the Greek economy. The study recommends that embracing a low-carbon, resource-efficient, and circular economy is of paramount importance to Greece in order to ensure environmental protection, as well as to boost green growth, create new jobs, and combat unemployment. Greece should ensure that energy efficiency techniques are promoted, and renewable energy sources are expanded in order to increase the options for cleaner alternatives and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, thus preserving the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuous increase in energy demand has led to the gradual depletion of fossil fuels and the corresponding environmental degradation. As a result, the implementation of energy efficiency measures, as well as the integration of Renewable Energy Sources systems, are a challenge on the road towards Nearly-Zero Energy Buildings. Within the framework of this study, an extensive literature review was carried out on the existing Photovoltaic/Thermal collector technologies, their energy, environmental and economic efficiency. Furthermore, a solar combi system with photovoltaic/thermal collectors installed in a residential building was studied. The system was evaluated for its energy and environmental efficiency. Finally, the results in terms of thermal efficiency and carbon footprint were compared with those of a solar combi system with a flat plate collector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the coal phase-out era, achieving sustainable mine closure is significant and prioritizes targets for the mining industry. In this study, the already closed lignite mine of Kardia, North Greece, is investigated, where the mine void left is naturally filled with water. The viability of different repurposing land uses is evaluated, and the natural water level development inside the mine pit is investigated concerning its future uses. The potential for solar photovoltaic (PV) panels developed on mining land and its surrounding area is evaluated in combination with the application of pumped hydro storage (PHS) technology, utilizing pit lake water. Except for electricity system planning, other end-uses that offer multiple, mutually reinforcing and lasting benefits are investigated, such as recreation parks, terrestrial wildlife, aquaculture and agriculture. All repurposing scenarios are evaluated with regard to the spatiotemporal evolution of the lake, by generating forecasts of the dependent variables (rainfall and temperature) via linear (autoregressive integrated moving average) and non-linear (artificial neural network) models. The prediction of pit lake natural development redefines the new land use layout and the land repurposing decisions. This is essential for strategic planning, considering the Greek lignite mining industry's priority regarding transitioning from the current coal-based electricity to renewable energy sources (RES) technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local energy projects have been associated with several benefits for the local community like social cohesion, economic gains, new skills, and environmental awareness. Yet, there is limited research on whether the projects fulfill their sustainability promises, and how the local community perceive the benefits. This research introduces a novel framework to assess the success of a local renewable energy project based on the perceptions of the local population and the initial ambitions of the projects. Using this framework two innovative local renewable energy projects are assessed; one in Tilos island in Greece and the other in El Hierro in Spain. An online questionnaire was used to assess the impact of the project on people's lives, their overall assessment of the project and their willingness to support similar future initiatives. The data show that the economic benefits are not significant when people assess the project, while on the contrary other factors like the environmental benefits, sense of pride, technical parameters institutional seem to have a greater effect. The environmental and institutional factors are also among the ones that influence people's willingness to support and participate in future projects. Overall, we reveal that the two projects are quite successful in the eyes of the local population and offer good case studies with several implications for policymakers and future initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proactive sustainable management of scarce water across vulnerable agricultural areas of South Europe is a timely issue of major importance, especially under the recent challenges affecting complex water systems. The Basin District of Thessaly, Greece's driest rural region, has a long history of multiple issues of an environmental, planning, economic or administrative nature, as well as a history of conflict. For the first time, the region's key-stakeholders, including scientists and policymakers, participated in tactical meetings during the 19-month project "Water For Tomorrow". The goal was to establish a common and holistic understanding of the problems, assess the lessons learned from the failures of the past and co-develop a list of policy recommendations, placing them in the broader context of sustainability. These refer to enhanced and transparent information, data, accountability, cooperation/communication among authorities and stakeholders, capacity building, new technologies and modernization of current practices, reasonable demand and supply management, flexible renewable energy portfolios and circular approaches, among others. This work has significant implications for the integrated water resources management of similar south-European cases, including the Third-Cycle of the River Basin Management Plans and the International Sustainability Agendas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New methods for state estimation are required due to the complexity of the topology of transmission and distribution systems, and the predictability in the management of prosumer dispatch. This paper describes a pilot project in Greece that, in accordance with OneNet's architecture, addresses the challenges of congestion and balancing management that system operators face due to the high penetration of renewable energy sources. The respective data requirements and the IT/OT environment are described, as well as the interconnections among the various modules and functionalities. Available resources of the grid's flexibility are identified, and the implementation of an integrated monitoring system based on efficient forecasting of volatile generation and demand is addressed. Congestion management and frequency and voltage control are in the center of interest of the demonstrator where, in close collaboration with system operators, respective network models are being developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing penetration of renewable energy sources creates a challenge for the stability of current power systems due to their intermittent and stochastic nature. This paper presents the field results of an efficient demand response solution for controlling and adjusting the electric demand of buildings in an energy district through the activation of their thermal mass while respecting the occupants' thermal comfort constraints. This multilevel control approach aims to support grid flexibility during peak times by constraining the energy exchange with the grid and increasing the self-consumption of the district. The results show a great potential for increasing the self-consumption up to 37% for offices, as well as improving the indoor environment, based on real data collected from a case study in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of defined land uses in most parts of Greece (80%) has led to multiple environmental problems and phenomena of informal (arbitrary) construction with secondary side effects, such as a lack of basic technical and environmental infrastructure, unfair competition among private investors, the strengthening of climate change (increase in the number of urban diffusion) and the decline of natural and cultural resources. The Greek urban policy, over the last 100 years, has not succeeded in limiting these problems and for that reason the new Law 4759/2020 is expected to promote the development of a more efficient spatial planning system reform implemented through the Local Urban Plans (LUPs) and the Special Urban Plans (SUPs) that are funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). These programs will contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage and to the development of productive activities at both local and national levels, especially on the sectors of renewable energy sources, the circular economy, and the construction of "green" materials, digital applications and products etc. LUPs and SUPs are related to the holistic reform of the national urban policy and the relevant planning system that horizontally affects a wide range of policy areas such as: environmental protection and adaptation to climate change (for natural ecosystems and biodiversity; agriculture; forestry; fisheries; water resources; coastal zones), built environment and development, protection of historic sites and buildings, allocation of the public infrastructure, allocation of investments etc. The General Secretariat of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment Ministry of Environment and Energy has the main responsibility for the implementation procedures of all the proposed actions that will start in 2022 and will end in 2026. This paper focuses on the analysis of the current urban policy reform in Greece and the reasons that this reform is considered an immediate necessity in the current Greek urban legislative framework and the expected outcomes of LUPs and SUPs, which are examined in the literature for the first time, contributing to research on the present EU planning systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increase in the complexity of the topology of transmission and distribution systems, associated with the predictability in the management of the dispatch of prosumers, new techniques for state estimation, and application of metaheuristics are necessary. In the current work a pilot project in Greece that addresses the difficulties of congestion and balancing management that system operators face in the renewable energy sources era, in accordance with the OneNet's architecture is described. Available resources of grid's flexibility are identified, and the implementation of an integrated monitoring system based on weather conditions with an energy control and dispatch system in the Greek electricity grid is addressed. The document suggests that flexibility resources will derive through predictions that have been improved and efficient forecasts from increased spatial resolution Numerical Weather Predictions and integration of Artificial Intelligence preventing the power system of entering dangerous topological or operational states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficient and sustainable exploitation of energy resources may secure a sustainable economic growth for different regions. However, the peripheries are subject to social, economic, and political constraints, with limited power over energy management. The present work examines regional convergence in exploitation efficiency as synopsized in the GDP generated by energy and minerals in an era of the country's efforts to shut down the lignite-run power production. With the assistance of panel unit root tests, we confirm non convergence of the variables employed, an expected result given the fact that different energy sources are being used for energy production by each different periphery, generating different economic results. In the second stage the methodology employed is a Bayesian vector auto-regressive model (BVAR) with an informative prior on the steady state. The particular methodology outperforms the conventional VAR methodology due to limited degrees of freedom. The Impulse response analysis and the Variance Decomposition analysis confirmed interlinkages among the regions studied. This result implies that the growth generated by different energy and mineral resources are interconnected. Furthermore, the energy transition taking place in Megalopoli and West Macedonia, where the two greatest lignite industries were located until recently, affects the growth generated by energy and resource exploitation for all the other peripheries, according to our findings. The novelty of the present work stands on the concept to detect interlinkages of energy and resources-based growth for the peripheries in Greece with the assistance of the Bayesian Var. The results of the present work are significant, since our findings suggest to policy makers tools to promote economic growth generated by energy based on alternative energy sources, including the environmentally friendly ones, by taking into consideration the interlinkages established by the existing infrastructure and the conventional energy sources used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local renewable energy initiatives, that involve the local population, can help empower the communities, economically, culturally, and socially. In many cases, the ambitions of energy projects go beyond mere electricity production and involve issues of energy justice, environmental awareness, and environmental citizenship. However, these aspirations are often forgotten during project assessments, or they fail to include local voices, especially those of women and other marginalized groups. Gender has been given little attention in the energy scholarship and especially during the post-implementation assessment of energy projects due to the belief that energy technologies are gender neutral and beneficial for the whole community. The present study, with a focus on two local energy projects with mixed ownership, challenges this notion. The two case studies are the islands of El Hierro in Spain and Tilos in Greece. A detailed survey based on a series of indicators drawn from the energy justice framework is used to evaluate women's perceptions. By following a feminist approach, this work draws attention on the difference experiences of women and how these are often not acknowledged during the assessment of renewable energy projects. Local renewable energy does not automatically imply energy justice and pluralism. More effort is needed from policy makers to include women in the decision making and to ensure a fair distribution of the benefits of the projects. • This paper examines the impact of two innovative renewable energy projects through gender lenses • Two case studies from the Global North are presented • Sex disaggregated results from a detailed survey were analyzed • The energy justice framework is the underlying conceptual tool for the analysis • The differences in energy perceptions and benefits/harms from the projects between genders are discussed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The non-interconnected islands of Greece can benefit from the comprehensive use of RES to avoid water droughts and ensure energy autonomy. The present paper analyzes an HRES with two possible operating scenarios. Both of them include a wind park of 27.5 MW capacity, an 1175 m3/day desalination plant, and a 490,000 m3/day water tank in Lemnos, Greece. Regarding the wind power, 70% is used in the HRES, while the rest is channeled directly to the grid. The main difference comes down to how the wind energy is stored, either in the form of hydraulic energy or in the form of hydrogen. The lifespan of the system is 25 years, such as the produced stochastic series of rainfall, temperature, and wind of the area. Through the comparison of the operating scenarios, the following results arise: (i) the water needs of the island are fully covered and the irrigation needs have a reliability of 66%, in both scenarios. (ii) Considering the energy needs, the pumping storage seems to be the most reliable solution. (iii) However, depending on the amount of wind energy surplus, the use of hydrogen could produce more energy than the hydroelectric plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significance of microgrid systems has grown considerably. This research proposes an innovative approach to manage uncertainty in microgrids by employing energy storage systems as the exclusive flexible resource. To address this challenge, a mathematical problem is formulated as a two-stage stochastic programming model, considering two uncertainties in the microgrid: wind and photovoltaic production. The microgrid system encompasses multiple components, including a diesel generator, a microturbine, wind and photovoltaic power generation, an energy storage system, and the microgrid's demand. Notably, the microgrid exhibits two distinctive features: (i) the complete integration of wind and photovoltaic production, and (ii) the utilisation of an energy storage system as the sole flexible resource. The objective is to minimise the expected cost of the microgrid system while determining the optimal capacity of the energy storage system to meet the energy balance constraint. This constraint takes into account the varying scenarios of wind and photovoltaic production. The decisions are taking for a duration of 8760 h, a long-term evaluation. A case study is presented for actual data from Greece and the results show high volatility of the renewable energy sources implies higher energy storage system capacity as a sole flexible source for avoiding renewable curtailment. • Increased RES volatility raises costs, requiring larger ESS capacity. • Single ESS flexible resource elevates energy capacity needs. • RES curtailment avoidance hikes ESS capacity needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Optimal system reduces dairy industry's energy cost by 64% and carbon footprint by 55%. • Cheese whey waste proves to be a fruitful biomass resource for green energy. • Novel thermal energy's cost index enhances enables sustainability evaluation. • Multicriteria tools effectively rank hybrid energy systems for informed decision-making. • Sensitivity analysis validated the proposed system's resilience. This research explores the potential of sustainable energy systems within the European industrial sector, specifically focusing on the dairy industry in Greece. It investigates the techno-economic feasibility and environmental impact of implementing a Hybrid Renewable Energy System (HRES) that uses the sector's organic waste for energy production. This approach aligns with sustainability development goals by harnessing local energy potential, enhancing system reliability, and reducing the carbon footprint. This research work advances the discourse on sustainable energy systems within the European industrial sector, confronting energy poverty and its associated societal challenges. The study compares nine different HRES configurations, each incorporating varying combinations of photovoltaic systems, wind turbines, biomass generators (utilizing cheese whey waste and olive tree pruning), and hot water boilers. Through comprehensive analysis and the application of a Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) tool, scenario 9 emerges as the optimal choice. This scenario leads to significant reductions in key sustainability metrics. The simulation of the implementation of scenario 9′s optimal system demonstrates a remarkable 64.0 % reduction in the levelized cost of energy and a 55 % decrease in carbon footprint. Additionally, the system has a payback period of 5.93 years and an internal rate of return of 16.5 %, highlighting its economic viability and attractiveness for potential investors. These findings underscore the potential of HRES to transform industrial operations towards a sustainable and green paradigm, paving the way for a more resilient and environmentally friendly energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2022 energy crisis augmented the European ambition for RES capacity expansion. However, beyond the issue of "how many" renewables, the research question that remains, is which capacity mixes achieve the emissions reduction, renewable integration, and energy autarky targets in a cost-effective way. This paper tries to answer this inquiry supported by two energy models and one decision support model. The analysis focuses on Greece, as an example country which opted for lignite phase out, turning to temporary heavy reliance on natural gas for power generation. The results indicate that even though from the energy and environmental targets' perspective, more wind turbines in the RES capacity mix yield better results, when incorporating the economic point of view, balanced wind and solar mixes enable the achievement of targets in a cost-effective way. The most cost-efficient mixes consist of 50–55% wind and 45–50% solar capacity, with cost per additional percentage of RES share in the generation mix, equal to 40 million €. Nevertheless, in order to materialize them in a timely manner, and limit the short-term dependency on imported gas, permitting simplification, tenders for large-scale projects and incentives for small-scale projects are needed to facilitate accelerated RES deployment. • A modelling framework allowing exploratory RES capacity expansion is presented. • Renewable energy sources and storage capacity mixes are explored. • Balanced wind and solar mixes achieve energy targets economically efficiently. • RES deployment pathways to 2030 based on different perspectives are analyzed. • Further policy action is needed to enable accelerated RES deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the carbon emissions from hotels on non-interconnected islands (NII) is essential in the context of a low carbon future for the Mediterranean region. Maritime tourism is the major source of income for Greece and many other countries in the region, as well as hot-temperate and tropical regions worldwide. Like many NIIs, Rhodes attracts a high influx of tourists every summer, doubling the island's energy demand and, given the high proportion of fossil fuels in the Rhodian energy supply, increasing carbon emissions. Using the theoretical framework 'FINE', this paper presents the optimisation of a medium-sized hotel's energy system with the aim of reducing both cost and carbon emissions. By introducing a Photovoltaic (PV) net metering system, it was found that the carbon emissions associated with an NII hotel's energy system could be reduced by 31% at an optimised cost. It is suggested that large-scale deployment of PV or alternative renewable energy sources (RES) in NII hotels could significantly reduce carbon emissions associated with the accommodation sector in Greece and help mitigate climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research activity in the field of combined cooling heating power (or trigeneration) systems with high renewable energy source (RES) contributions has increased rapidly over the last few years, in line with the European Union legislation about energy communities. However, technical challenges arise regarding the synergetic, sustainable and optimal integration of RES in local energy systems. In the present study, the operation of a trigeneration system located in the student residences of Democritus University of Thrace in Greece is examined. The system involves a combination of highly promising renewable and storage technologies, including solar thermal energy and biomass for heat generation, hot water tanks for thermal energy storage, absorption refrigeration for cooling, along with Organic Rankine Cycle and photovoltaic systems for electricity generation. System modeling and simulation have been implemented in Dymola environment with the use of Modelica equation-based modeling language. The accuracy of the model response has been validated against available measurements. Specific design and control measures have been proposed, simulated in a transient fashion and evaluated in terms of (i) RES generation, (ii) solar fraction and (iii) temporal flexibility. The measures examined, including the placement of a Li-ion battery, resulted in an increase of 24.6% in the heating demand solar contribution and of 7.9% in the renewable energy generated for the electricity demand, over the examined periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity gradient energy (SGE) plants generate power from the mixing of salt water and fresh water using advanced membrane systems. In the Strymon River, under low-flow conditions, a salt wedge is formed, developing a two-layer stratified system, which could be used to extract SGE. In this paper, a novel study was implemented by coupling a 3D hydrodynamic model simulating the salt wedge flow, with the SGE model which assesses the net energy produced by a 1 MW SGE plant. Two scenarios were followed: (a) the optimal scenario, operating throughout the year by mixing salt water from the sea (38.1 g/L) and fresh water (0.1 g/L) from the river to produce 4.15 GWh/yr, and (b) the seasonal scenario, utilizing the salinity difference of the salt wedge. Results show that the daily net SGE production varies between 0.30 and 10.90 MWh/day, in accordance with the salinity difference (ΔSsw ~15–30 g/L). Additionally, a retrospective assessment (from 1981 to 2010) of the annual and seasonal net energy production was conducted. This analysis illustrates that the salt-wedge formation (spring to late summer) coincides with the period of increased regional electricity demand. In the future, the emerging SGE could serve as a decentralized renewable energy source, enhancing energy security in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignite plays a dominant role for energy production in Greece, covering over 30% of the demand for electricity generation. Increased energy demand requires, additionally to alternative energy sources, an increase in energy supply from both old and new deposits. Due to the low quality of mined lignite, methods of upgrading in terms of power plants' efficiency and environmental performance need to be applied. In this work, the technique of Selective Size Reduction (SSR) was investigated for three deposits in North Greece, Amynteon, S. Field and Ahlada, in order to improve lignite quality through reduction of its mineral matter content. The variation of the qualitative characteristics of the grain fractions produced by SSR provided useful information on both the suitability of these fractions for combustion in the power plants of the area and the emissions of greenhouse gases. The results have shown that fractions, which were produced from the first stage of crushing, with recovery between 83% and 95%, had lower ash by 16.5–27% than the raw material and were of acceptable quality for combustion in the power plants of the area. Beneficiated fractions could give energy efficiency between 34% and 36% and a reduction in CO2 emissions up to 29%, originated from the decomposition of the carbonate minerals, contained in the mined lignite. As a result, the cost for buying CO2 certificates could be lowered up to 3€/MWh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A setup of water cooling by natural evaporation is investigated. It includes a shallow water tank, insulated and covered with a thin aluminum plate in complete contact with the water. A dark‐color fabric was fixed stretched on the plate, which was continuously wetted to cause natural evaporation by solar radiation. The setup was placed on a building rooftop of the University of Patras, Greece. Measurements during a warm period showed significant decrease in water temperature maintained lower than ambient air temperature by 2–16°C, with differences greater than 5°C with 57% probability. Moreover, a computational model was developed and implemented. It is based on energy balance of the water in the tank using local climate recordings (air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and solar radiation). The water temperature predictions agree very well with the measurements (3.5% normalized rms deviation). Since the water temperature was always lower than the ambient air temperature, and the operating performance of the setup was high enough, this methodology could be developed for sustainable house cooling during the warmer seasons of the year. This system is environmentally friendly, economically feasible, and sustainable, as it uses water, wind, and solar energy, without emitting greenhouse gases. Statement of Industrial Relevance: The proposed technology improves the process of passive water cooling through evaporation of a continuously wetted fabric without losing the cooled water. In parallel, a software was developed that simulated satisfactorily the process. We aim to further improve this technology to make it more easily applicable for mild house cooling, as a renewable and sustainable energy source that saves cooling water and uses wind and solar energy, without emitting greenhouse gases. Moreover, it is environmentally friendly, economically feasible, and operates with high performance. This adds value to the Environmental Engineering Laboratory, the Department of Civil Engineering, and the University of Patras. Novelty or Significance: This technology improves the water‐cooling process through wet fabric evaporation and is suitable for sustainable house cooling. This is achieved by interposing a thin aluminum plate between fabric and cooling water, in complete contact with them. The evaporating water may be potable or not. The environmentally friendly fabric color allows installations on roofs or in gardens. The structure is simple with common materials, economically feasible with high operating efficiency. The cooling water temperature is maintained from 2 to 16°C lower than ambient air (>5°C with 57% probability). The software developed may be used for designing or assessing such systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses updates in the development of a floating offshore wind energy industry in the European Union (EU) Mediterranean region, particularly in Greece. Other topics include the estimated European Commission data on the installed offshore wind power capacity in the EU, the limitations for offshore wind farms of the Greek seas, and the need for efficient institutional and regulatory framework in the sector.

Renewable energy potential depends on many variables that vary both in space and time. Therefore, geospatial analysis approaches may effectively support proper planning and technoeconomic analysis. In this study, a simulation model of a two-stage Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) engine combined with evacuated tube solar collectors was developed and applied throughout Greece. The simulation model uses daily meteorological data for a thirty-four years reference period. These data are downscaled in hourly time step and used to predict the system's performance in spatially distributed form based on experimental data. The obtained results are statistically analysed and a set of ranking maps presenting various aspects of the integrated system performance is created. The results indicate that there is a profound spatial variability. The interannual average power production ranges spatially between 17.4 and 27.7 kWh/d, the total efficiency between 0.022 and 0.028 and the corresponding energy cost between 0.41 and 0.7 €/kWh. Finally, the effect of climate variability on energy production performance and the presence of trends are investigated. The proposed approach was proven to be an effective tool for the assessment of the feasibility and potential of a solar heat-to-power engine for Greece and to be expanded in other regions as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Mining of raw materials have both positive (e.g., creation of values and jobs along their supply chains and the supply chains they enter) and negative social impacts (e.g., affecting safe and healthy living conditions of the local community or through the risk of corruption). A new mining paradigm, small-scale "switch-on switch-off" (SOSO) mining, is based on the design of a flexible and modular mining plant (MMP) and aims at exploiting quickly and safely European small high grade deposits of raw materials, including critical. The goal of this study is to assess the social implications of this new mining paradigm on the value chain of the MMP. Methods: A social hotspot assessment is conducted on pilot-scale operations of an MMP led in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the production of lead concentrate. The assessment is conducted using the performance reference point method. The background system is modeled through the PSILCA v2.0 database, while the foreground system is modeled using on-site data completed with PSILCA information. Results: The assessment reveals six main hotspots induced by both the foreground and the background systems and occurring mainly in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These hotspots can be divided into three groups: (1) local preoccupations within the community: "contribution to environmental load" and "public sector corruption," (2) measures that can be put in place by the MMP operator: "social responsibility along the supply chain" and "certified environmental management," and (3) the conditions prevailing in the country: "sanitation coverage" and "workers affected by natural disasters." Two sensitivity assessments are conducted in order to test the operating conditions of the MMP: switching from a diesel generator to a renewable source of energy supply and switching the country of operation to Greece, host of a similar deposit that could be potentially exploited thanks to the MMP. Switching the electricity supply system increases the overall risk due to the increase in potential impacts occurring on the renewable energy supply chain (e.g., battery manufacturing). When switching the country of operation to Greece, the overall potential impacts are predicted to decrease. Conclusions: This study performed on pilot-scale operations provides information on potential social and socio-economic impacts and recommendations to limit these impacts in case of widespread use of the SOSO approach. In a broader perspective, having better knowledge of social implications linked to the mining and metals sector will help better understanding their implications in the various value chains they enter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EU has set ambitious commitment to achieve low carbon energy and economy transition up to 2050. This low carbon transition means sustainable energy development path based on renewable energy sources and first of all should address the energy poverty vulnerability and justice issues. The main goal of the paper is to develop indicators framework for assessing low carbon just energy transition and to apply this framework for analysis how climate change mitigation policies in households targeting enhancement of energy renovation of residential buildings and promotion of the use of micro-generation technologies and other policies are affecting household's energy poverty and vulnerability in selected countries: Lithuania and Greece. This framework allows to assess three main dimensions of sustainable energy development: environmental, social and economic. The paper provides policy recommendations how to deal with just low carbon energy transition which means addressing energy poverty issues during moving to 100% renewables in power generation based on performed case studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global economic growth is accompanied by increased energy demand, thus conventional fuels such as coal, oil and gas, which are the primary energy sources, are gradually being depleted. At the same time, the combustion of conventional fuel for energy production causes serious adverse effects on the environment and contributes to climate change due to the emitted greenhouse gases. For the above reasons, most of the developed and developing countries especially during the last decades, have introduced various incentives for the greater penetration of renewable energy sources (RES) in all sectors of the economy. Concerning the building sector, several measures have been adopted, including the promotion of energy efficiency and energy saving. A significant proportion of the building stock are the school buildings where students and teachers spend a significant proportion of their daily time. Teachers' attitudes and views, especially the school unit managers concerning the use of RES in schools, are important in the effort to rationalize and control energy use. This study was conducted through a structured questionnaire applied to a sample of 510 school managers in Greece's primary and secondary education. The school unit managerial role for the case of Greek schools is performed by the school principal who has both administrative and educational duties. Statistical analysis included the application of Friedman's test and hypothesis test on questions concerning school manager environmental perceptions and energy-saving habits. According to the results, Greek school managers have a high degree of environmental sensitivity, since 97.6 % agreed or strongly agreed that the main concern should focus on energy saving. Furthermore, 71% of the respondent reported to have good knowledge on solar energy, followed by 64% on wind energy while only 34% are knowledgeable on biomass. Almost all the respondents (99%) agreed that it is important to provide more RES-orientated education through the taught curricula. Concerning energy saving behaviour, around 90% reported that they switch off the lights when leaving the classroom and they close the windows when the air-condition is operating. Hypothesis tests revealed a relationship between the school managers' ecological beliefs, the energy saving habits in the school environment, and the recognition of the importance of environmental education. Conclusions highlighted the need to intensify environmental education programs in the school environment concerning RES in schools. This will lead to a higher level of environmental awareness of both teachers and students and therefore to a more dynamic behaviour towards the effort to “greenify” the school environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Fish is a delicate and valuable source of protein, and aquaculture is expected to provide the required amount of fish needed at reasonable prices. Packaging is a vital stage to preserve hygiene, quality and freshness of aquaculture products. The purpose of this study was to identify environmental hotspots in farmed seabass and meagre during the packaging stage and to examine scenarios for reducing environmental impacts, aiming at greenhouse gas neutrality. Methods: The life cycle assessment method was applied for the first time at three packaging plants of farmed seabass and meagre in western Greece, in order to assess their environmental impacts, taking into account the amount of electricity, expanded polystyrene, and other plastic and packaging materials needed. Moreover, different scenarios were designed involving the energy mix/alternative sources, recycling and reuse of packaging materials, and the replacement of standard polystyrene boxes and wooden pallets, in order to suggest environmentally friendly improvements in the packaging process. Results and discussion: Conventional operation of seabass and meagre packaging plants requires significant amounts of energy and packaging materials. In fact, electricity, boxes and pallets were documented as the main contributors to most of the environmental impact indicators. Seabass packaging had a slightly lower overall environmental impact compared to meagre, due to its smaller market size. Impact minimization scenarios resulted in various degrees of reduction of environmental burdens in both species; however, near-zero GHG emissions were achieved when energy from photovoltaic panels and recycling/reuse of packaging materials were combined with the use of non-fossil-based boxes and recyclable pallets. Such readily applicable adjustments to the conventional operation of packaging plants would contribute to overall environmental sustainability and to better consumer acceptability of the final product. Conclusions: In a nutshell, the life cycle assessment method proved to be a valuable tool for assessing the environmental performance of Mediterranean aquaculture packaging processes. Moreover, it served to identify critical factors directly related to the EU GHG neutrality target. Accordingly, environmentally friendly decision-making/strategic management in the farmed fish packaging sector will inevitably rely on alternative energy sources, recycling of packaging materials, and use of recyclable corrugated board boxes or similar non-fossil-based materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity, amongst the crucial consequences of climate change, leads to more and more dry areas, causing various socio-economic problems, while water demands are higher than ever. To address this challenge, the scientific community turns to alternative energy sources combined with desalination systems. In light of everything mentioned above, this study developed a methodology for the site suitability of solar desalination plants on the island of Crete, Greece. A multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach was used to evaluate a diversity of criteria selected as the most suitable for the spatial planning of solar desalination plants, while GIS was applied to produce the dynamic maps. After the definition of the exclusion areas, followed the classification of the evaluation criteria in a suitability scale from the least suitable to the most appropriate areas. To determine the relative importance of the evaluation criteria, a weighted analysis was taking place by assuming several scenarios. Finally, GIS was exploited to produce the suitability maps. The adoption of the above methodology provided crucial outcomes, valuable for the decision-making process of governors, policymakers, engineers and researchers, especially during the discussion with local communities, which are to be affected directly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A self-sustained, zero-CO 2 emission RES-H 2 Hybrid Energy System (HES) was developed at Lavrion Technological & Cultural Park (Attica, Greece) to cover electric power, heating/cooling loads (tri-generation) of an office building located in its premises. The primary energy is harvested from RES and directly applied to cover contingent loads, whereas the excess energy is converted to hydrogen to be used as energy storage system and thus as a green fuel to cover the building heating needs through direct combustion or to produce combined heating and electricity by means of fuel cells. In this study, the performance of the functional RES-H 2 HES is evaluated as well as its impact by applying the methodology of Life Cycle Assessment. HES resulted in the reduction of Global Warming Potential, Acidification Potential and Photochemical Oxidant Formation by 40%, 42% and 35%, respectively, compared to the exclusive use of Greek energy grid mix for electricity. • Life Cycle Assessment of a hybrid RES-H 2 Hybrid Energy System developed in Greece. • Hybrid Energy System reduced GWP by 40%, compared to the use of GR-energy grid mix. • AP is decreased on Hybrid Energy System by 42%, compared to the GR-energy grid mix. • POF of Hybrid Energy System was 35% less compared to the use of GR-energy grid mix. • Environmental impact of PVs was 5 times higher, compared to WTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for energy independence of small remoted islands, promote the exploration of renewable energy sources. Greek islands have rich wind potential and subsequently, the attention is being drawn to the use of wind turbines to meet their energy needs. However, the optimal location of wind turbines installation is the basis for the exploitation of high wind potential in combination with the current legislation framework. This paper presents a combined use of Multi‐Criteria Decision‐Making (MCDM) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the evaluation of eligible sites for wind turbine installation in North Aegean island, in Greece. Criteria weights are estimated for three scenarios using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) for the illustration of the impact on the final design. The minimum distance from the main settlement of the island constitutes an extra constraint for the investigation of the capability of installing wind farms with the lowest possible energy losses due to power transmission via cables. In all scenarios, the prohibited zone corresponds to 27.9% of the total area of the island. Also, sites with high wind potential can be combined with lower altitudes and can give even more suitable locations for installation, reducing, thus, the installation cost. Economic‐oriented scenario appears to combine both low cost and larger surface area for installation. A sensitivity analysis is performed, for determining the impact of the criteria on the suitability of a site. It seems that new suitability maps are affected greater by the type of the chosen criterion rather than the weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scope of this study is to investigate the main determinants of renewable energy investments in Greece. For this reason, we build an appropriate framework to infer the decision‐making process in the renewable energy sources (RES). The main drivers are then categorized under two groups as economic, and behavioral ones. In the next stage, we rely on binomial (logit and probit) and quantile regression analysis to estimate the impact of these factors on investment decisions towards RES. Our findings indicate that investors who gain better access to knowledge and exhibit a more positive attitude towards the contribution of artificial intelligence (AI) on the RES industry have a higher share of renewables in their portfolio. We argue that these investors are willing to invest a higher amount in the RES industry today. At the same time, quantile regression models illustrate that this relationship is nonmonotonic (i.e., inverted U shaped curve), arguing that positive attitudes towards the contribution of behavioral factors on RES are not adequate to encourage investments after crossing a certain point (threshold). Based on the empirical findings, we argue that the message to policymakers and government officials is to promote a faster penetration of low carbon technologies to achieve sustainable economic and social growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution looks into logos as a powerful designing tool which can promote the implementation of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) policy. Given the lack of universal logo which would communicate the RES-derived products and services effectively, we initially explored the public's emotions, thoughts, perceptions, images, experiences, beliefs and attitudes towards RES and non-RES through their design illustration. Experts decoded a total of 769 RES and 737 non-RES designs of four different sample groups ranging from the less informed children to well-informed engineers, and defined the design variables of a RES logo. On the basis of these design guidelines, professional designers created 60 RES logos. Besides, 432 participants randomly selected evaluated the logos on a score scale from 1 to 6. Interdisciplinary, cross-cultural and semiotic analysis of the winner logo revealed that in order to promote the RES use, a logo should be of round shape; present a sense of movement; convey a clear positive message; embed natural elements in the composition of the image with various hues of green, white and yellow-orange colours; include visually acute, religious and cultural symbols, and carry connotations of personal and social responsibility. This is the first attempt of designing a RES logo with public participation. Image 1 • Promotion of the implementation of renewable energy sources (RES) policy. • Efficient communication of the RES-derived products and services through a logo. • Public participation in defining the design variables of a RES logo. • Interdisciplinary, cross-cultural and semiotic analysis of a logo. • An effective logo should carry connotations of personal and social responsibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study empirically investigates the relationship between renewable and non-renewable energy consumption and economic growth in Greece, using annual data from 1990 to 2016. The results reveal that there is a significant positive long-run effect of both, renewable and non-renewable energy consumption, on economic growth. In the short run, the results are in the same direction. The overall findings imply that renewable and non-renewable energy consumption significantly stimulates economic growth in Greece. Taken into account that renewable energy sources reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment, the expansion of renewable energy consumption with a strategic plan is required. The challenge for policymakers in Greece is to substitute conventional energy fuels with others that produce less pollution and to raise renewable energy sources by keeping a sustainable and long-term growth path. Energy policy should be combined with the implementation of coherent, consistent and sequential renewable energy-enhancing structural reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]