What Greece lacks, first and foremost, is a meaningful and well-documented long-term energy plan, which would be the outcome of sober consultation, with comparative scenarios, time- and geography-specific targets and, of course, mechanisms for implementation monitoring and evaluation. Unfortunately, what we are still witnessing is a short-sighted mindset that serves petty partisan, unionist, local and business interests.
The following examples are revealing:
- lack of a formal long-term Energy Plan, compatible with the country’s international obligations;
- lack of arguments in the public debate in favour of the need for new lignite-fired plants in the country;
- the boom of gas-fired plants over the past 15 years, which are currently operating below capacity and are in constant search of tricks to avoid bankruptcy;
- the even greater boom of PV facilities in the years 2012-13, which had managed to secure high guaranteed feed-in tariffs.
At the same time, political parties, local authorities, social and economic actors need to become aware of, and respond to, this important and urgent challenge. The much-needed energy revolution shines by its absence in the public debate on every level.