Beyond the hype: How to shape the green hydrogen economy FACTSHEET The prospect of a green hydrogen economy comes with significant opportunities and risks. There is a need to both promote and carefully shape the much needed expansion of production, while limiting the end use of green hydrogen. By Jörg Haas
Energy Communities and just transition to post-lignite era ARTICLE Since the public debate on the energy transition began, it has revolved almost exclusively around the need for independence from fossil fuels and other technical issues, ignoring the dimension of the participation of the local communities and the numerous successful examples of community energy schemes across Europe. By Ioanna Theodosiou
Delignitisation and Just Transition: Causes, threats and challenges ARTICLE On 23 September 2019, from the UN platform, the Prime Minister announced the landmark decision for Greece's complete decoupling from lignite by 2028 at the latest. Many parameters led to this decision. What could jeopardise the success of the energy transition of lignite areas to the post-lignite era, and what should be the characteristics of this transition? By Nikos Mantzaris
The Green Path to Just Transition in Western Macedonia ONLINE DISCUSSION The key importance of citizen participation in the Energy Transition being attempted in Western Macedonia was highlighted by the online discussion entitled The Green Path of the Just Transition in Western Macedonia, organized by the green think tank The Green Tank and the Heinrich Böll Foundation - Thessaloniki Office, Greece on 26 January with the participation of representatives of the local government, the local community and the academic institution of the region.
Fossil-Fuel Doublespeak ARTICLE On paper, almost every government in the world is committed to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions and keeping global temperatures limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. But too many governments, parroting the oil and gas industry's misleading claims, are actually supporting the expansion of fossil fuel production.
Phasing-out Coal; Reinventing European Regions REPORT PRESENTATION Coal regions not only hold major political powers but are also crucial economic assets for Member States. The "Phasing-out Coal -Reinventing European Regions" report, by the Greens, provides key information on the role of coal-mining in the socio-economic structure of four European regions and how existing European structural instruments could be utilised for a just energy transition. The event is postponed
Utilising the wealth of RES in Greece In Greece of the crisis, there is no room to reproduce the energy model of the 50s. Even more when modern, clean and smart solutions with significant benefits for employment and innovation, are now becoming financially competitive.
Energy policy without planning or dialogue? 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.
Towards a post-lignite era Lignite has been the backbone of Greece’s electricity system for many decades, offering affordable energy for the country’s economic growth. However, a number of reasons pose the urgent matter of the country's gradual and planned transition to the post-lignite era.
Impact of Lignite on the environment In the significant air pollution of the region caused by the pollutants emissions from the power plants one must add their significant footprint on the water resources and the forced relocation of villages.
