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Evgenia Tsatsaki Writes for International Energy Exhibition of Greece

Act of War

by Evgenia P. Tsatsaki

Last year, again in the Greek hot July, we talked about Life and Death Energy and came to a mortally important conclusion about life: If energy is not used, focusing on Man and his Culture, if it does not strengthen the universal memory of freedom and freedom itself, then there is no point in meeting for energy, there is no point in talking about Energy. It is a national and global responsibility, an individual responsibility, the Energy that will be produced to defend and serve Man and his noblest manifestations[1].

We had to get to the invasion of the Russians in Ukraine, whose strategic depth was reduced and spread out by crushing their neighborhood, in order to feel and understand the necessity, the value of the above conclusion. An action that has dressed up the threat of nuclear power, that feeds dangerous scenarios, that shakes economies on a global scale and that meets the demand for security en masse and universally. The war had to be fought in Ukraine in order to feel our energy nakedness in our own skin, our homes had to be drown economically in order to understand, most of us perhaps not yet, the energy dependence on Russia and the consequences of this dependence. See how comfortable are the Americans. They are not so dependent on Russia. Who is going to stop Russia, which still feels invincible?

The missile attack on Ukraine that hit a military target on June 26 coincided with the G7 leaders’ summit and is another signal from Putin[2] in all directions. Also, “boosted by oil and gas revenues, the Russian economy is experiencing a much less severe recession than Ukraine. Indifferent to public opinion, the Russian army seems not to care about how many of its soldiers are dying. For all these reasons, Putin may well believe that a long war of attrition is his to win it, not only in southern and eastern Ukraine but ultimately in Kiev and beyond[3]. This beyond is also concerns us as a country and as a member of the European Union and NATO.

“In this war, as in the past, it is not only the goals that shape the battles, but also the battles that shape the goals. In 1939, Britain’s war to maintain Polish independence became a war to overthrow Hitler and recapture Germany. Until 1945, America’s war to curb Japan’s Asian expansionism and retaliation for Pearl Harbor was a plan to eradicate European empires, establish an open world economic order, and save Europe from communist, and not just Nazi, dictatorship.[4]” Europe is once again in the spotlight.

The invasion of Ukraine concerns us and attacks us in various ways. It vilifies humanity, greek culture and spirit, the essence of our psychosynthesis. As a country that gave birth to the ceasefire of the Olympic Games, the asylum of ancient Greek temples for the persecuted, we are surprised by the unspeakable barbarity of Russia: looting, deportation, rape, murder. “These are moral facts that will modify and will have to modify or even outweigh the coldly geopolitical calculations of the European balance of power[5].” Putin is not willing to respect or abide by the Geneva Convention or the United Nations Convention on Genocide[6].

The solution that is preferred as the fairest, safest and most sustainable for us and worldwide, is the immediate defeat of Russia with the help of America and Europe[7]. A solution that serves Man and serves our survival in the future. Who or who will prevent the appetite of extending Putin-style living space to other little gentlemen? Sweden and Finland rushed to join NATO in panic, in the face of developments. Are there any allies? Ladies and gentlemen, we are on our own. There is no need for much perception to this. Alliances exist and are respected when all those involved have a common interest, so history teaches.

Since 1903 we have known that there are hydrocarbon deposits in Greece. We had to get to 1960 to start some investigations and these convulsive ones. The decades have revealed the web of our deadly inaction due to the non-definition of an EEZ, leading to the first serious research intervention in 1997 and consequently to the “Seismic” incident. No matter how much companies express interest in mining in the Greek seas, no matter how many rights our country has in the definition of an EEZ, if there is no political will, we will remain extras in the repeated theater of the absurd with the neighboring country and worldwide.

Since 1903 we have known that there are hydrocarbon deposits in Greece. We had to get to 1960 to start some investigations and these convulsive ones. The decades have revealed the web of our deadly inaction due to the non-definition of an EEZ, leading to the first serious research intervention in 1997 and consequently to the “Seismic” incident. No matter how much companies express interest in mining in the Greek seas, no matter how many rights our country has in the definition of an EEZ, if there is no political will, we will remain extras in the repeated theater of the absurd with the neighboring country and worldwide. Illiberal and non-autonomous energetically, carried away in voluntarism. The poet of the Greek summer sounds “the king the sun lives”, but we look as other tettiges, afraid to take over the domination of our enclosed sea. We belong to NATO. So what? We belong to the European Union. All right. We have not defined an EEZ, so how will we have investments of this caliber in a precarious environment? How do we get rid of policies of fear and hostage-taking? Until when will we give a push to Putin-type dictators to be able at any time and time to change the status quo of the Greek area?

I will not carry out technocratic and economic analyses, since I am an archaeologist. A motto sentence is “do it like Cyprus”. With politics and geostrategics, activating EU policies and institutions, opening channels of the highest diplomacy and concluding economic alliances, no matter how much the gentleman from the east shouts, we can achieve the maximum.

The natural borders of our country, our seas, are splashing the solutions and the listening ears are desperately demanded. South and southwest of Crete, the deposit, nearby lies Egypt. The contribution of Byzantine civilization as the guardian of the Greek and at the same time cradle of Europe is indisputable. The existence of Europe as a geographical designation, state and political continuity, is born and flourished in Byzantium, in its endurance for 1000 years and in the walls of the City[8]. St. Catherine of Justinian on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt, chosen here as a fitting example, remains a living reminder of the universality of Hellenism. I remember I was at the University of Crete, still a student (2013) at the Department of History and Archaeology and my professor in Byzantine archaeology was recounting an incident that took place in the Sinai Peninsula. She directed the excavation in the surrounding area of the homonymous monastery, when she and the entire mission faced a military threat. The last bulwark defending humanity and freedom was the Bedouins, the descendants of those who were ordered by Justinian in the 6th century AD and promised by future generations later, to guard the monastery and its people to this day.

Bedouins still keep their promise 1500 years later. The reason? It’s simple. Their survival depends largely on the monastery, which in turn helps its guards. They keep this tradition alive in order to keep themselves alive. They do not need international treaties, perhaps because they are now easily violated, such as the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, which the Russians and other countries threw at the Ukrainians for the safety of the former and which was ruthlessly violated by all. In the case of St. Catherine of Sinai, both sides understand their interest. Do we? Memory and emotion coheres our Humanity. Think about it. It weighs heavily geopolitically and geostrategically, weighs heavily on and outweighs technocratic and economic analyses, because it establishes our existence.

 

[1] Evgenia P. Tsatsaki, Energy of life and death, Presentation at the 5th Pancretan Energy Conference, Heraklion 8 July 2021.

[2] Institute for the study of war,  Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, Press ISW, 26 June 2022.

[3] Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic Column, Defeating Putin is the only route to peace in Ukraine, 23 May 2022.

[4] Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, What victory will look like in Ukraine, There will be no return to normally or status quo ante, 11 May 2022 https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/ukraine-russia-goals-win-war/629815/

[5] Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, What victory will look like in Ukraine, There will be no return to normally or status quo ante, 11 May 2022.

[6] Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic Column, Defeating Putin is the only route to peace in Ukraine, 23 May 2022.  https://www.anneapplebaum.com/2022/05/23/defeating-putin-is-the-only-route-to-peace-in-ukraine/

[7] As above, see also Dymtro Kuleba, How Ukraine will win,, Foreign Affairs The Hellenic Edition

https://www.foreignaffairs.gr/articles/73719/dmytro-kuleba/pos-tha-kerdisei-i-oykrania

[8] Panagiotis K. Kanellopoulos, The Essays, vol. II, Historical Essays. Ed. Society of Friends Pan. Kanellopoulos, Athens 2002, pp. 246-255.

DEPA Commercial: Custodian of Greece’s energy security and of the smooth operation of the domestic energy market

by CEO of DEPA Mr. K. Xifaras Writes for the International Energy Exhibition of Greece

Today, the energy sector, both in Greece and worldwide, is faced with a series of challenges and unforeseen factors which highlight, now more than ever, the need for a holistic approach to energy matters. The need to contain energy costs and support the society, on one hand, and the process of energy transition, on the other, have created a situation in which the market needs to find a balance which will ensure both the country’s energy efficiency and its survival in sustainable terms.

While trying to solve this difficult equation, the role of natural gas, as a bridge, fuel proves to be decisive for shaping the future of the energy market, given the diversification of energy sources and routes of supply and transport, as well as the expansion of storage capacity. DEPA Commercial, which consistently serves these strategic priorities, has been developing a multi-level strategy for the last three years that has proven to be particularly effective. A strategy with double focus: the verticalization and expansion of corporate activities, and the seamless transition to “green” energy, both of which are national goals described in the National Energy and Climate Plan and the European Green Agreement, enhancing our country’s role as a regional energy hub for the wider Southeast European region.

In order to cover the country’s immediate energy needs and to shield its energy security, DEPA Commercial is increasing the supply of LNG either through current contracts or through the spot market, while having already secured long-term agreements on more favorable terms. At the same time, the company is investing in important infrastructure projects and programs, which are drastically reshaping the energy status quo of the region and are contributing decisively to the process of Europe’s independence from Russian gas, such as the Greek-Bulgarian pipeline – IGB and the offshore LNG terminal (FSRU) in Alexandroupolis. Both, projects which will significantly increase the capacity of supply and storage of both Greece and the neighboring countries it serves.

TAP, Poseidon and EastMed are equally important pipeline projects, with the latter returning dynamically to the forefront as a result of the energy crisis, since it will enable the transport of natural gas from the fields of the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe. To that direction, DEPA Commercial is currently in advanced discussions with trading companies from Israel and Egypt.

In this way, a safety net is established regarding the security of supply in the wider region, which upgrades Greece’s geopolitical status by transforming it into a regulatory factor in the energy landscape.

Simultaneously, given the enhanced importance of natural gas, we have designed a comprehensive strategy aiming, on the one hand to expand the use of natural gas, both geographically and in terms of uses, and on the other hand to create the conditions for the development and utilization of renewable and alternative forms of energy. Keeping this in mind, DEPA Commercial is leading the developments towards the transition to a greener economy by designing and implementing initiatives that promote the further penetration of natural gas in the country’s energy mix, as a transitional fuel on the way to cleaner energy forms. The company also contributes substantially to the promotion of gas mobility and the use of cutting-edge technologies, such as Small-Scale LNG and CNG, thus expanding even further the natural gas network and ensuring distribution even in the most inaccessible areas. At the same, time, emphasis is placed on the development of a sustainable and efficient LNG supply chain for maritime transport that will increase the growth prospects of the Greek shipping sector.

With its sights on the future, DEPA Commercial is already active in the field of Renewable Energy Sources by creating a “green” portfolio that exceeds 200 MW of photovoltaic parks, and is also developing projects, infrastructure and technologies which will be able to serve in the future even “greener” energy such as hydrogen and biomethane.

Moreover, at DEPA Commercial we have proven that we operate always considering pertinent societal issues and, for this reason, with a true sense of responsibility we are contributing decisively to the absorption of a significant percentage of the rise in international gas prices, through the implementation of targeted market interventions aimed at supporting households and businesses, in full cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Energy.

With a solid vision and through hard work, DEPA Commercial is today an integrated energy company, with strong bases, operating vertically and according to modern corporate governance terms. We are meticulously planning our next steps and we are creating the conditions to successfully meet the ever-changing needs of the market and the economy.

International Energy Exhibition of Greece 2022

The short introductory Web PreConference, part of the International Energy Exhibition of Greece 2022 (IEEG) & 6th Cretan Energy Conference (CEC) that will place on 1 – 3 of July in 2022 at Chania, Crete has been successfully realized.

The International Energy Exhibition of Greece is under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, Ministry of Maritime and Insular Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Development and Investment. The Region of Crete is supporting the event as well. Following the latest geopolitical situation, the organizing committee is opening the participation spots in order to express in the decisive worldwide energy issue. Honored Country for 2022 is Egypt. More information: cretanenergyconferences.org

Opening the new circle of participants, we would like to resume part of introductory speeches from the ‘’Pre – Virtual conference IEEG, Energy Matters: What 2022 holds’’.

Mr. John Sitilides, diplomacy consultant at the US Dept. of State, provided a geopolitical overview and assessment of the regional and global energy markets from a US perspective with main focus on the South Europe and in the frame of Ukraine crisis.

In brief, he stated that Europe has all energy sources needed, both fossil and nuclear, for countering the Russian tactic of weaponizing gas supplies -especially during US presence in Ukraine- and that the European intensive investment on renewables during last decades has failed. He paralleled Europe’s energy dependence on Russian gas to the US dependence on China as a manufacturer of energy components. Moreover, Mr. Sitilides highlighted the US as world’s top natural gas producer and estimated that without the US oil supplies to the European market, oil prices would have been even higher. US exports of LNG to satisfy Europe’s needs have exceeded Russia’s pipeline deliveries. In fact, Russian exports account for 30-40% of Europe’s gas use, while EU gas prices quadrupled.

Regarding EU commitment to green energy and long-term goals to fight climate change, Mr. Sitilides mentioned that energy crisis has provided a painful demonstration that unconditional reliance on Renewables is not realistic for covering the 21 century needs and highlighted energy affordability as the major concern, especially since commodity prices predictably will not fall as fast as they rose and will remain at exceptionally high levels throughout 2022. The democratically elected European governments will have to address border concerns about inflationary energy costs. Mitigating this damage necessitates embracing the “intermediary step” of expanding supplies of natural gas. That especially is going to be the case with TAP as a means of supplying non-Russian gas. Moreover, he mentioned that the expansion of Revithousa LNG terminal has enabled the expansion of US LNG deliveries to Greece and regional markets, and that the FSRU unit in Alexandroupolis will contribute from 2023 and on to the diversification of regional energy sources around.

Even further, Mr. Sitilides considered US commitment from the Biden Administration of reducing carbon emissions by 65% by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050. Since the US allocate 76% of their overall energy budget to their military, with the largest part of this energy coming from fossil fuels, Mr. Sitilides further questioned climate change and transition to renewables as “energy myths” that are devastating the energy industry and durability to deliver profits to the shareholders. He mentioned that practically less than 3% of global energy is RES-driven (even after the investment of 2.7 trillion $ during the past decade) and that such technologies overconsume land and minerals, while the risk of energy poverty overwhelms climate change. He brought to the audience’s attention that in Germany citizen electricity bills doubled, whereas US green energy policy of reaching net-zero in 2050 will cost 12% of US GDP and probably about 11000 $ per US citizen every year for the next 30 years.

Mr. Sitilides concluded suggesting the use of fossil fuels to be the best solution for Greek, European and international future as cost-effective and reliable source of energy.

 

Mr. John Maniatis former Minister of Energy and professor’s holistic approach included all energy sectors combining the technical, financial and political issues.

The former Minister stressed that the energy crisis started as a global crisis and mainly evolved into a European crisis. Natural Gas is highly priced for long time intervals, three times or five times more than other regions of the planet due to the needs of this continent.

Additionally it was highlighted the great wound of EU where one trillion euros will be lost and more specific Italy, which will lose 38 billion euros.

He mentioned that this crisis should teach us what we need to do and what we should avoid. EU needs to increase its natural gas independence and SE Mediterranean could be the main core of this energy strategy. Moreover he stressed that we need a new energy dogma not of 2000 but 2020 – 30 with emphasis at the pipelines and the electric pipelines EuroAsia & EuroAfrica Interconnector.

Finally, he stressed that we are heading to green transition as Europe and as Greece and we need to complete this quickly but by realizing that:

Sustainable energy is equal-sided triangle:

With equal sides and angles, where we should not forget that Europe is populated by 54 million energetically poor citizens.

 

His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Mohina, First Undersecretary for Research, Planning and Authorities Follow-up, represented the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewables. He discussed the forecasts and the planning of the Egyptian side in view of the developments in the energy market in 2022 and thanked the Greek Government for the dialogue step through this event.

He noted that Egypt perceives energy as a matter of national security and politically supports its energy sovereignty. For this reason, in its effort to deal with issues such as electricity & fuel shortages, availability of production units and transmission losses, the Ministry has since 2014 implemented major upgrade programs. It thus managed to increase its installed capacity from 32.2GW (in 2014) to 59.5GW (in 2021) in combination with the addition of 8 million more consumers to the grid and the increase of the electricity share per capita.

Regarding the penetration of RES, Egypt’s “Strategic Vision” for 2030 for sustainable development is in line with its “Energy Strategy 2035” but also the goals of sustainable development of the United Nations, aiming to cover 42.7% of the domestic production from RES to 2035 and providing strong incentives for private investment. By the end of 2021 it had achieved 6,148 GW of installed capacity, which is equivalent to approximately 20% of peak load. Indicative of the political weight of RES for Egypt is the creation of the world’s largest photovoltaic park in Aswan with a 2 billion dollar investment (1,465GW of installed capacity).

With regard to Egypt’s energy interconnection with foreign countries, the Ministry has proceeded to the expansion and gradual upgrade of the transmission and distribution networks, based on the high solar and wind potential of the country, its energy surplus, its strategic position as well as and the strong domestic manufacturing industry of electrical systems. Part of Egypt’s extroversion in this area are the current electricity interconnection projects with Greece and Cyprus, accompanied by the signing of MoU among the parties involved.

Finally, it is worth mentioning that the Egyptian Government has targeted and invested in future projects. These notably include the impressive 2.61 billion dollar-high pump storage project with a capacity of 2.4GW, with the main contractor being the Chinese state-owned Sinohydro, as well as “Waste to Energy” technologies, while studies on hydrogen technology infrastructure are currently ongoing. Hydrogen infrastructures have now been given special importance by the Egyptian Government resulting to a PM decree that mandates setting up an inter-ministerial committee responsible for drawing up the respective Roadmap for future steps using hydrogen, which will include the final version of the strategy. In present time, the committee has finished the final report and recommendations, whereas the necessary arrangements are being made for the preparations of the National Hydrogen Strategy.

 

The Minister of Maritime Mr. G. Plakiotakis, mentioned that the event’s actions will operate as node for exchanging ideas regarding the developing prospects of the energy sector in the coming years.

 

 

He talked about shipping where the path taken by the industry is dedicated in protecting the environment and in the gradual detoxification from carbon.

Greece strongly supports the promotion of innovations and realistic solutions for decreasing carbon dioxide emissions under the guidance of the International Marine Organization. Only within the context of IMO is it possible to take measures that do not only guarantee an essential carbon footprint improvement but also ensure the long-term sustainability of this strategic sector.

Moreover, Greece aside of being a global naval power it’s also an important hub of transit trade, due to the strategic location of its ports. Among others things, it was mentioned that Greece has 115 inhabited small and large islands, where their regular connection with Greek mainland must be ensured, as well as the transport of goods and passengers in combination with the fulfillment of international and European environmental goals.

Right now, the Ministry has created a strong legislative framework which has provided the tools needed to plan the future of Greek islands with security, realism and perspective for the future, together with the local communities. Thus, the Greek port system will actively participate in the development of local economies, as well as in the national economy of the country. Also, all those scenarios are being studied that would create in the rest of our major regional ports the necessary background that would lead them to the next day.

We are now in the final stage of utilizing the ten largest regional ports in the country, with attracting of investment interest having exceed all expectations. In 2022, the selection phase of the first contractors for four of them is expected to be completed and we will intensively continue the international tenders for the remaining six.

It was also reported that the digital platform e-pilotage is immediately activated through which all navigation processes in all ports of the country are automated. The platform will be able to extract and exchange data through interconnection with third party systems while it will result in direct communication and cooperation, between the involved entities, both in information and in the payment of navigation rights.

Finally, he stressed that for the Government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, ports are not just facilities for loading and unloading goods, goods and people. They are levers of development of the Region and as they are historically closely connected with the urban tissues of the cities in which they are located, they are levers of development of the local communities, with what this implies both for the investments that will be made in them and for securing the places. but also their connection to local economies.

 

Ms. Maria Boile, Director of the Postgraduate Program in Shipping, Department of Maritime Studies, University of Piraeus but also with a broader biography in the field of shipping, also stressed that Greece is a global shipping power with about 20% of Greek shipowners controlling of the world fleet in capacity. And respectively at European level 58%. For Europe, 75% of foreign trade is transported by sea, while worldwide more than 90% of goods are transported by ship.

She spoke about the strategy that envisages a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by 50% by 2050 compared to 2008, while in terms of carbon dioxide emissions the projected reduction by 40% until 2030, with aim to reduce by 70% by 2050 and gradually eliminate carbon emissions. She referred to key proposals being evaluated including electricity, biofuels, ammonia, hydrogen and methanol. However, the shift to these fuels also presupposes appropriate technological developments on ships, appropriate storage facilities and facilities in ports, as well as facilities for the production and distribution of fuel. She also mentioned as the coordinator at European level of the Waterborne Technology Platform. The role of the Platform is particularly important, as it helps to achieve the defined objectives, through the coordination and support of research and innovation actions, which aim to serve the transition to zero-emission maritime transport.

The priority axes set by the Technology Platform are 6 and include the use of alternative fuels, electricity, energy efficiency, design and conversion, digital green and ports. In each axis, the goal is to have developed the necessary technologies, standardizing the processes and to have presented large-scale applications before 2030. Every year in this context, research actions on these issues are funded.

Coastal shipping have a particularly important role at national, economic and social level. Greece has 15,000 kilometers of coastline, over 3.5 thousand islands of which 115 are inhabited as mentioned by the Minister and about 14% of the country’s population lives on them. Coastal shipping, coastal ships, are the very roads or the imaginary bridge that connects the islands with each other and with the mainland, in order to achieve the seamless connection of all areas and to ensure the territorial continuity.

In the context of a program study prepared by the Institute for Sustainable Mobility and Transport Networks for the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy, we study the coastal network with emphasis on barren lines. One of the issues we are looking at is the energy consumption of coastal vessels and the pollutants produced as well as the possibility of using alternative forms of energy. Taking into account the average age of the fleet of coastal vessels, we understand that there is an urgent need to find solutions to these issues. The solutions should focus on  the forms of energy that are suitable for the coastal shipping ships but also the way of production and storage of energy and the facilities that should exist in the ports.

 

Furthermore Mr. A. Savvakis, President of the Hellenic Energy Exchange, spoke about this newly established entity, but necessary and crucial for the future.

HEE was founded in June 2018 and consists of the Hellenic Energy Exchange SA. (Hellenic Energy Exchange SA – HEnEx) and the Energy Exchange Clearing Company (EnEx Clearing House SA -EnExClear). Since being appointed by the Hellenic Energy Regulatory Authority (RAE) as the Designated Electricity Market Administrator (ODAE), HEE has evolved according to the European agenda for a single and integrated European Energy Market.

November 2020: Integration into the European Target Model of the EU

– Integration of the Greek electricity market with the target model of the EU

– Day-Ahead Market Intra-Day Market with local auctions (LIDAs) December 2020 & May 2021: Price coupling of the Next Day Market through the interconnections of Greece with Italy (2020) and Bulgaria (2021)

– 15 December 2020 – coupling of the Greek Day-Ahead market with the EU markets – over the interconnection between Greece and Italy

– 11 May 2021 – Extension of the market coupling through the interconnection with Bulgaria

October 2021- EnExGroup and the ATHEX cooperate with the Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) to establish a new model for the liquidation of the Cyprus Electricity Market. The CSE is responsible for the financial settlement of the obligations and receivables of the Market Participants as well as for the risk management in relation to their obligations. EnExClear provides ongoing support to the CSE for the development of the necessary regulatory framework and the provision of its services, while the ATHEX provides the IT support infrastructure.

November 2021: Launch of the hybrid operating model of the small connected judge system.

The Energy Exchange Group in collaboration with the Managers of IPTO, HEDNO, DAPEEP and the Energy Regulatory Authority put into productive operation on October 31, 2021 for the first day of natural delivery on November 1, 2021 the Hybrid Model of the Small Market (Small Market) based on the provisions of the Regulatory and Legislative framework that covers the first phase of the start of the interconnection of Crete with the mainland System. The integration of the market of MSS Crete with the hybrid model, proposed and implemented by EnExGroup in close collaboration with the Administrator of ESMIE one year after the launch of the Target Model, now provides the Suppliers and Producers of Crete with the advantage of a single liquidation most of their transactions for Crete in the EXE Markets maximizing the participation of RES in the MSS of Crete.

February 2022: The Athens Stock Exchange Group (ATHEXGroup) and the Energy Exchange Group (EnExGroup) jointly undertook, in the context of a public offering, to provide the Albanian Energy Exchange (ALPEX) with the Infrastructure & Services for its operation and specialization. Trading Platform for the Next Day Market and Intraday Market and the Services required for the operation of the Regulated Market in Albania and Kosovo.

HenEx already offers training programs for its participants. Participants in the Natural Gas Trading Stand can be the Transport Users and DESFA. DESFA participates by trading in short-term standardized products for reasons of balancing the National Natural Gas Transmission System. The transactions that take place are anonymous while their quantities are automatically notified to DESFA. Based on the transactions made at the Natural Trade Trading Stand, the ERA calculates and publishes a set of Reference Prices, including Closing Prices, the Next Day Gas Index (HGSIDA) and the Intraday Gas Index (HGSIW) and HGSIW Gas Balancing (OTAAE and OTPAE).

“Where do we want to go”

The establishment of a regional energy regime in the SE Mediterranean and in the Balkans in particular. Play a regional role by integrating neighboring energy markets under an efficient, secure and reliable trading umbrella, strictly based on European regulatory standards, providing shareholders with transaction transparency, low transaction costs and the elimination of hedge risk management. Given EnEx’s position in the region, we are confident that our efforts will soon bring positive results for shareholders as a whole.

 

Mr. P. Ladakakos, President of ELETAEN (the Greek entity for Wind Energy) referred to the Agenda of wind energy until 2021 as well as 2022 and the subsequent course.

The Installed Power by 2021 was 4,451 MW in the national interconnected and non-interconnected network. In 2021 we had 340 MW which was less than in 2020 and 2019 due to license delays and that with the existing rates it is difficult to catch the ESEK targets. For this reason, he suggested simplifying the licensing framework and that the key word in it is flexibility.

There are many facilities that are in the mature stages, but with the development of technology, it is necessary to update their licensing, referring to them as more modern, large, and productive wind turbines. The industry targets are fewer wind turbines, with larger engines, that increase productivity, and therefore lower production costs for the network. Therefore, lower cost risk compared to fossil fuels, ie cost predictability advantage. Hence independence from commercial & geopolitical parameters such as Natural Gas.

He also referred to the challenge for the full integration of RES in the full operation of the new electricity markets.

Finally, he stressed the new target model, that of offshore wind, which must be given great weight, for which until now we did not have the satisfactory technology but it is now mature and we can still take advantage of the large wind potential of the Aegean.

Finally, it was stated that we must seriously consider from now on and for the future the issue of energy storage as well as the proper information of local communities.

 

Dr. Pantelis Biskas, Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki) discussed the impact of new interconnector between Greece and Egypt in the greek wholesale electricity market in the frame of the highly important ‘’GREGY’’ project.

He mentioned that almost 1.5 years ago, the case of GREGY interconnection between Greece (region of Attica) and Egypt (Wadi El-Natroon) was studied that comprises an Extra High Voltage line with  3.000 MW of maximum transmission capacity hence allowing for bi-directional power flow between the two countries.  A 100% share of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) generation is aimed to be transferred from Egypt to Greece starting from 2028. The relevant study included scenaria that considered greek load sensitivity analysis, Greece’s load profile, the RES-based and storage element installed capacities, Natural Gas pricing and CO2 costs. Particular focus was made on a favorable scenario of intermediate system loading, not expensive gas and CO2 pricing and high production and storage capacity (“S1”) as well as on an extreme scenario of high system loading, high fuel and CO2 pricing and low production and storage capacity (“S5”).

The study has shown that the exported 3000 MW from Egypt to Greece on a yearly scale (excluding meaintenance periods) will significantly affect the production planning of domestic power plants that use Natural Gas, given that the cost of the imported electricity from Egypt will be decidedly lower than the cost of their produced power. Prof. Biskas thus commented that a need for storage stations will emerge, in addition to the reduction of gas fuel imports to Greece.

The basic contribution of this study was to assess by how much GREGY interconnection could release capacity for commercial exchanges to Italy and Bulgaria (approximately 500-700 MW), which is a satisfied specific criterion set by EU Regulation 347/2013 in order for the interconnection to be considered eligible for assessment and inclusion in the European Union “Projects of Common Interest” (PCIs) list.

 

Mr. A. Marinos, Office Manager of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy, spoke in detail about the Developments and new goals of FitFor55: the new Green Deal.

The latest version of the European Green Deal is the so-called Fit-For-55. Through this, the European Commission approved a package of proposals to enable the European Union’s climate, energy, land use, transport and tax policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030. Compared to 1990 levels. In the integration of the principles of the circular economy, so that all together contribute to the achievement of the broader goal, tackling climate change and Europe ‘s climate neutrality by 2050.

Mr. M. Dritsas, Office Manager of the Deputy Minister of Development and Investment Dr. Christos Dimas, responsible for the research – technology – innovation portfolio, referred to the energy sector of the Ministry.

Research, Technology and Innovation are the catalyst for humanity’s progress and prosperity.

The Greek innovation ecosystem includes 25 universities, 11 Research Centers, 3 Technology Bodies, 1,100 companies that are actively involved in innovation and 600 start-ups that have been registered in the National Register “Elevate Greece”.

The country participates in most of the European and international developments, while it has expressed its interest in participating in 2 important projects of common European interest ’(IPCEIs) in the field of Hydrogen as well as Batteries.

It is pointed out that Greece, in the very competitive programs of Horizon 2020, in Pillar 3, Greece did much better than the European Average in terms of participation, both in the thematic area of ​​Energy (Transport) and Transport (Transport).

 

From the 28 National Research Infrastructures financed by the Ministry of Development, we single out 3 “networks” of Research Bodies that are active in specific vertical sectors:

  • the Research Infrastructure “PROMETHEUS”, in the field of Energy
  • PANACEA “Environmental Sector” Research Infrastructure dealing with climate change and climate change
  • the INVALOR Research Infrastructure concerning waste utilization and sustainable resource management

At the national level, the flagship action “Research-Create-Innovate” in the energy sector is in progress, the approved proposals constitute 7% of the total budget. It includes 69 projects with a budget of € 50.5 million in which 216 partners participate: companies and Research Centers.

Also the energy-related sectors: Transport and Supply Chain, also accounts for 7%, while the sector Environment and Sustainable Development, 9.4%.

More “active” scientific entities in the field of Energy:

  •   The NTUA, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the University of Patras, the     University of Crete together with the Mediterranean University, the University of West Attica, the University of Western Macedonia and the Democritus University stand out from the universities.
  • CERTH, FORTH and DEMOKRITOS stand out from the Research Centers, while the   National Observatory of Athens and the emblematic CLIMPACT initiative stand out in   terms of climate change.

At the same time, a Competence Center in the field of energy has been set up with the scientific leadership of the National Technical University of Athens, while 3 Innovation Clusters in Sustainable Development and the Circular Economy and a Cluster in Transport and Smart Mobility are also being set up.

In start-ups, 8.3% are companies active in the field of Environment and Energy. Regarding StartUps, we have registered 44 companies, where 7 of them are spin off by Research Institutions. The companies are active in the field of Energy storage through batteries, hydrogen, Renewable Energy Sources and Smart Mobility.

Today, the Ministry of Development and Investment and the GGEK, has already completed its planning for the next financial period of Research, Technology and Innovation that extends until 2030 with a total budget of the NSRF 1.3 billion and an additional 500 million. by the TAA (RRF), as well as additional Public Investment Resources and the Regular Budget.

It will participate in National Actions and European Joint Initiatives (European Partnerships).

The National Energy Research and Technology Strategy covers 9 areas:

1 Energy efficiency and energy saving

2 Energy from RES

3 Energy Saving

4 Hydrogen technologies and systems and climate neutral fuels

5 Smart grids – demand response – decentralized production

(Smart Grids – Energy Response – Decentralized Production)

6 Reduction of Fossil Fuel Impacts

7 Smart communities – cities with low energy and almost zero emissions

8 Energy and Transport

9 Energy and Agriculture

Challenges in the road towards the development of hydrogen projects

A new era is dawing for climate policies and actions towards ‘net-zero’ emissions and to decarbonization of the socio-economic system! It is now the momentum of development of low-carbon hydrogen, which is expected to be the key to decarbonisation and especially for the decarbonization of the energy sector and transportation sector (which are responsible for the majority of the GHG emissions, globally).

EU is taking the lead in the development of hydrogen infrastructure and general of the use of hydrogen as the main path to decarbonization. To this end, last year the EU published the European Hydrogen Strategy (https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/hydrogen_strategy.pdf), for a climate neutral Europe, in combination to the European Energy Sector Integration Strategy (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2020:299:FIN), which is strongly related to the decarbonization process.

But the hydrogen pathway is not without any challenges…

Several issues must be solved or at least, immediate, actions to be taken, so as to safeguarde the transition to climate neutrality based on hydrogen. First, it is very important policy makers to prioritize the development of green hydrogen production and transportation. Of course, blue hydrogen can support the transition to decarbonization, but it cannot support a climate neutral socio-economic system.

Some of the challenges that the development of green hydrogen is facing are:

  1. Gaps in regulative / permitting framework: In most countries, hydrogen is a new ‘fuel’, thus spatial, environmental and health & safety (HS) regulative gaps to be identified and new legislative acts to come in force.
  2. HS challenges: How mature is the HS legislation of handing, storing, construction and operation of hydrogen facilities?
  3. Environmental challenges: Although hydrogen is considered to have an exceptionally low footprint, potential environmental constraints (i.e., water availability, biodiversity, development of new networks etc.) need to be identified and solutions to be provided.
  4. Taxonomy Regulation challenges: Hydrogen project must be compatible to the the ‘Do No Significant Principle’.
  5. Social challenges: A great discussion on the socio-economic changes by the decarbonization has already started. Furthermore, a non-exclusive stakeholder engagement of the public and of the stakeholders on the hydrogen development in relation to decarbonization must take place.
  6. Technical barriers (i.e. electrolyzers, RES to be used etc.).

Do we have the answers? Maybe for some of the constraints, yes. For others, maybe not. But in any case, we hope this Conference to show the direction to the solutions!

 

Thomas Kollias, Environmental & Social Consultant for Energy Projects- Ecomed
Ioannis Aspirtakis, Mechanical Engineer, MSc, PhDc – ErgoProlipsis, General Manager
Vasilia Alexopoulou, Environmental Consultant, Alexopoulos and Parnters

 

Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, G. Plakiotakis, writes for the 5th Cretan Energy Conference – International Energy Exhibition of Greece

Reduction of GHG emissions is a distinct challenge

The history, culture and economy of Greece are inextricably linked to sea and shipping. Shipping has constantly and substantially supported economic development bringing at the same time added value to all connected sectors.

Though the country accounts for only 0.16% of the world’s population, Greek ship-owners own 21% of global tonnage and, post Brexit, 58% of the EU’s controlled tonnage. The Greek maritime cluster comprises more than 1.440 shipping companies engaged in ocean-going shipping and further 3,700 maritime companies active mainly in cabotage and short-sea shipping, highlighting Piraeus as a maritime center of global range and a centre of excellence in ship-management. These companies, having under their management over 4.700 ships, greek-flagged and greek-owned, offer direct employment to almost 18.000 employees and are the driving force for the entire maritime cluster, which in turn offers directly and indirectly quality jobs to nearly 200.000 people. For 2020, the abovementioned operations and synergies contributed to our economy more than 13.8 billion Euros.

We live in challenging times and it is the case that the pandemic derailed or rescheduled our priorities, as happened all around the globe. In this respect the main priority for 2021 is to put strong foundations for the recovery of all economic activities, including shipping.

The maritime environment is our common, global heritage. And shipping is a global industry. The IMO Initial GHG Strategy needs to be implemented as a matter of urgency, with focus on the practical implementation of the short-term technical and operational measures to be adopted by the IMO mid-June. The next step, to start already within the current year 2021 is to create the necessary preconditions that will enable the decarbonization of shipping, as the ultimate objective of both the European Green Deal and the IMO GHG Strategy.

This pathway necessarily involves the development and deployment of new fuels and propulsion technologies, suitable for each and every shipping mode. The most important sectors in Greece are, first, ocean going shipping and Ro-Ro passengers, which need to provide frequent, regular and quality connections to an extensive network of more than 400 routes serving 115 inhabited islands.

In both sectors, reduction of GHG emissions is a distinct challenge and I believe that the business partnerships to be explored and eventually established will provide very useful solutions. The same is true as regards more sustainable and efficient port operations, as well as the fuel supply industry, which will need to provide safe alternative low carbon fuels not only in the EU but worldwide.

 

G. Plakiotakis, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy

Secretariat of Clean Energy for EU Islands Writes for the 5th Cretan Energy Conference – International Energy Exhibition of Greece

The Clean energy for EU islands secretariat is looking forward to participating in the 5th Cretan Energy Conference – International Energy Exhibition of Greece and share our experience in supporting European islands in their clean energy transition.

In cooperation with the European Parliament, the Commission set up a Secretariat to deliver the objectives of the Clean Energy for EU Islands Initiative in 2018. The Secretariat acts as a platform of exchange of best practice project examples for islands’ stakeholders and provides dedicated capacity building and advisory services. The secretariat mainly covers topics related to clean energy such as energy production, Energy efficiency, Heating and cooling, Transport to and from the island, and transport on the island

The Clean energy for EU islands secretariat was created to facilitate the clean energy transition on EU islands with a bottom-up approach. It is built on the vision that to assure the best environment for change, and to benefit all members of the island communities, a balanced collaboration between public and private stakeholders is essential. For this reason, the Secretariat is using the quadruple helix approach, helping citizens, local authorities, local businesses, and academic institutions work together to advance the clean energy transition on their island.

To facilitate the islands’ transition to renewable energy and encourage them to act, the secretariat is organizing various events and activities like workshops, forums, calls for technical assistance or video calls. It not only supports islands in planning and getting funding for projects, but also helps them to promote their projects through its social media channels, newsletters, or events. Connecting islands and giving agency to people who want to transfer their island towards a clean energy future, is one of the secretariat’s goals. Its events provide islands with a chance to explore, shape, and act. They can explore other islands’ ongoing projects or agendas to draw inspiration for their own ambitions. Islands have the opportunity to engage in workshops and in turn finalize or pitch their projects and find investors. During these events and regardless of events, the secretariat provides support to apply for financing or finding investors.

It is especially difficult for islands to create and import energy since they are often not connected to continental electricity grids. This makes energy more expensive than in other regions. Switching to renewables is an important step, not only for the environment, but also for the energy security of islands. There are various possibilities to use an island’s potential for renewable energy technologies such as wind turbines, solar farms, or wave energy.

The secretariat hopes to motivate even more islands to take the first step towards their clean energy transition during the 5th Cretan Clean Energy Conference – International Energy Exhibition of Greece

 

International Energy Exhibition of Greece comes in 2021

From this year onwards the International Energy Exhibition of Greece is integrated in the organization of the Cretan Energy Conferences.The International Energy Exhibition will be held in Crete from 8 to 10 July 2021, under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and the support of the Region of Crete.

The event is organized by Cretan Energy Conferences and the entrance to the public is free, primarily to academics, students and professionals and secondly to the general public. Exhibitors will be present from across the energy sector.An important event for Greece will be held annually in Crete for strategic reasons, each year’s main goal is the contribution in the development and progress of the science and EU affairs , in the global scene. After the postponement of the event on  2020, the event is rescheduled on a “safe” month giving the opportunity for physical presence.

 

Ο Κωνσταντίνος Παπαλουκάς μιλάει για το Υδρογόνο εν όψει του 5ου Παγκρήτιου Ενεργειακού Συνεδρίου – International Conference & Exhibition

Η ανάπτυξη της Οικονομίας Υδρογόνου ως ευκαιρία για την Ελλάδα

Tο Υδρογόνο διαθέτει τα ιδιαίτερα αυτά χαρακτηριστικά, για να βοηθήσει την παγκόσμια κοινότητα να ξεπεράσει τις τρέχουσες ενεργειακές προκλήσεις και παράλληλα να ενισχύσει τις ενέργειές της για την αντιμετώπιση της κλιματικής αλλαγής. Η ανάπτυξη μιας παγκόσμιας Οικονομίας Υδρογόνου όμως απαιτεί μια ολιστική προσέγγιση η οποία αγγίζει όλα τα τμήματα της αλυσίδας αξίας (value chain) και προϋποθέτει την παράλληλη ανάπτυξη της ζήτησης στην αγορά μαζί με αυτή των υποδομών παραγωγής (upstream), μεταφοράς (midstream) και εφοδιασμού (downstream).

Η Ελλάδα υποστηρίζει σθεναρά τη δυναμική του υδρογόνου στον δρόμο για ενεργειακή μετάβαση και περαιτέρω απανθρακοποίηση του ελληνικού, αλλά και του ευρωπαϊκού ενεργειακού μείγματος. Και αυτό γιατί το υδρογόνο δύναται να αντικαταστήσει τα ορυκτά καύσιμα τόσο ως καθαρό καύσιμο όσο και ως πρώτη ύλη σε συγκεκριμένους τομείς που η απανθρακοποίησή τους παρουσιάζει ιδιαιτερότητες και δυσκολίες, όπως αυτούς των μεταφορών και της βιομηχανίας.

Βραχυπρόθεσμα έως μεσοπρόθεσμα, η Ελλάδα προσανατολίζεται σε μια τεχνολογικά ουδέτερη προσέγγιση στον τρόπο παραγωγής υδρογόνου, αν και μεσοπρόθεσμα έως μακροπρόθεσμα, αφού η απανθρακοποίηση της ηλεκτρικής μας παραγωγής φτάσει σε ένα ώριμο σημείο, θα μπορούμε να δώσουμε περισσότερη έμφαση στην παραγωγή πράσινου υδρογόνου μέσω ηλεκτρόλυσης. Μια τέτοια εξέλιξη θα ξεκλειδώσει την περαιτέρω αξιοποίηση του μεγάλου δυναμικού ανανεώσιμων πηγών ενέργειας στο ενεργειακό μας μείγμα, ενώ ταυτόχρονα τέτοιου είδους εγκαταστάσεις θα μπορούν να λειτουργήσουν ως ένα αποτελεσματικό μέσο αποθήκευσης ενέργειας. Βραχυπρόθεσμα έως μεσοπρόθεσμα, λοιπόν, θα διερευνηθούν και λύσεις υδρογόνου χαμηλών εκπομπών άνθρακα με τεχνολογίες δέσμευσης, αξιοποίησης και αποθήκευσης του διοξειδίου του άνθρακα (Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage – CCUS), ώστε από τη μία να διασφαλιστεί η δίκαιη μετάβαση της χώρας μας και από την άλλη να ανοίξει ο δρόμος προς το καθαρό υδρογόνο μέσω της ανάπτυξης των αγορών και των υψηλής εντάσεως κεφαλαίου υποδομών υδρογόνου.

Η Ελλάδα θα κληθεί να  επιδιώξει τον φιλόδοξο αυτό στόχο για παράλληλη επέκταση και ανακαίνιση της υφιστάμενης υποδομής φυσικού αερίου της, προκειμένου να καταστεί δυνατή η μεταφορά και διανομή υδρογόνου. Αυτός είναι ο λόγος για τον οποίο οι συνεχείς ευρωπαϊκές επενδύσεις σε υποδομές αερίου συμβατές με υδρογόνο και βιομεθάνιο αποτελούν σημαντικό παράγοντα για την ενεργειακή μετάβαση του συστήματος φυσικού αερίου μας. Όσον αφορά τη μεταφορά και διανομή υδρογόνου, λοιπόν, θα πρέπει να δοθεί ιδιαίτερη έμφαση στην ανάπτυξη νέας υποδομής (greenfield), όπως επίσης και στον επαναπροσδιορισμό/επαναχρησιμοποίηση, κατά περίπτωση, υφιστάμενων δικτύων αερίου (brownfield infrastructure). Σε αυτό το πλαίσιο πρέπει να εξεταστούν ενδελεχώς ζητήματα που αφορούν την έγχυση υδρογόνου και άλλων ανανεώσιμων αερίων στο δίκτυο φυσικού αερίου που θα πρέπει να συμφωνηθούν σε ευρωπαϊκό επίπεδο. Παράλληλα, η νομοθετική πρόταση που δημοσιεύτηκε στις 15 Δεκεμβρίου για την αναθεώρηση του Κανονισμού των Διευρωπαϊκών Δικτύων Ενέργειας (TEN-E) αποτελεί τον θεμέλιο λίθο για την ολοκλήρωση του υδρογόνου και των τεχνολογιών power-to-x στο ενεργειακό σύστημα της ΕΕ. Η ανάπτυξη, επομένως, μιας αλυσίδας αξίας υδρογόνου απαιτεί την εξέταση αρκετών διατομεακών πτυχών που επηρεάζουν εγκάρσια πολλούς οδικούς χάρτες, όπως την Ασφάλεια και το Κανονιστικό Πλαίσιο, την ανάπτυξη Κωδίκων και Προτύπων (RCS) και άλλα.

Όπως διαφαίνεται και από τις διαβουλεύσεις μεταξύ των Κρατών Μελών η ανάγκη για μια ολοκληρωμένη Ευρωπαϊκή Πολιτική Υδρογόνου είναι πλέον επιτακτική. Μια κοινή στρατηγική θα μπορούσε να βοηθήσει την ΕΕ να άρει τους τόσους πλεονάζοντες ρυθμιστικούς φραγμούς που αποτελούν τροχοπέδη στην ανάδυση μιας ενιαίας Οικονομίας Υδρογόνου. Ταυτόχρονα, θα μπορούσε να παρέχει μια εκτίμηση για τις μελλοντικές εισαγωγές υδρογόνου δεδομένου ότι η ευρωπαϊκή ζήτηση αλλά και η  παραγωγική μας ικανότητα έχουν εκτιμηθεί αξιόπιστα. Επιπλέον, μια φιλόδοξη επενδυτική πολιτική της Ευρώπης στον τομέα του υδρογόνου μπορεί να τοποθετήσει την ΕΕ σε ευνοϊκή θέση στην αναδυόμενη διεθνή αλυσίδα εφοδιασμού του υδρογόνου.

Για την Ελλάδα το υδρογόνο δεν αποτελεί απλώς μια ενεργειακή πρόκληση. Αναβαθμίζει παράλληλα τη θέση της στην Ευρώπη, μιας και η γεωγραφική της θέση στην Ανατολική Μεσόγειο και η εγγύτητα στις περιοχές τις Β. Αφρικής έχουν σημαίνοντα ρόλο. Από τον καιρό του φιλόδοξου σχεδίου της Ένωσης για τη Μεσόγειο, όπου προέβλεπαν την παραγωγή ηλεκτρισμού και μεταφορά του με καλώδια υψηλής τάσης, η Ευρώπη γλυκοκοιτάζει και πάλι τον Νότο για την παραγωγή πράσινου υδρογόνου και μεταφορά του στην Ευρώπη. Εδώ δεν πρέπει να ξεχνάμε τον εξέχοντα ρόλο της ελληνικής εφοπλιστικής κοινότητας, μιας και κάποιος θα πρέπει να μεταφέρει το υδρογόνο στις πιο ώριμες αγορές  όπως την Ιαπωνία, την Κορέα αλλά και στις υπόλοιπες αναδυόμενες αγορές. Κάτι αντίστοιχο θα πρέπει να γίνει και για τη μεταφορά του δεσμευμένου διοξειδίου του άνθρακα σε προορισμούς αποθήκευσης, ακολουθώντας το παράδειγμα του έργου Northern Lights στην Νορβηγία. Οπότε η ενεργειακή μετάβαση είναι κάτι που αφορά ιδιαίτερα και την ελληνική ναυτιλία.

Μια Οικονομία Υδρογόνου θα μπορούσε, επίσης, να ενθαρρύνει μια νέα τεχνολογική και βιομηχανική επανάσταση στις περιφερειακές οικονομίες, δημιουργώντας αρκετές εξειδικευμένες θέσεις εργασίας. Συγκεκριμένα στην Ελλάδα μπορεί να αποτελέσει αιτία για επαναπατρισμό αρκετών επιστημόνων υψηλού επιπέδου που εργάζονται επί του παρόντος στο εξωτερικό.

Τέλος, πρέπει να τονιστεί ο ρόλος της ευαισθητοποίησης και της εκπαίδευσης του κοινού. Η παροχή τεχνικής γνώσης για το υδρογόνο και των τεχνολογιών του θα οδηγήσουν σε μεγαλύτερα επίπεδα αποδοχής και επίπεδα εμπιστοσύνης στην τεχνολογία. Γι’ αυτό και η συμπερίληψη ενός πάνελ αποκλειστικά για το υδρογόνο στο 5ο Παγκρήτιο Ενεργειακό Συνέδριο –  International Conference & Exhibition, αποτελεί σημαντική ένδειξη ότι η Ελλάδα ξεκίνησε να αναγνωρίζει πλέον το μέγεθος της ευκαιρίας. Θέλω να πιστεύω πως με μια ισορροπημένη εθνική στρατηγική που να ταιριάζει στα χαρακτηριστικά της, η Ελλάδα θα μπορέσει να αποτελέσει υπόδειγμα και για άλλες χώρες, όπως έπραξε και μια χώρα ανάλογου πληθυσμού, η Πορτογαλία.

Για αυτό το μεγάλο εγχείρημα απαιτείται ο ανάλογος συντονισμός της Πολιτείας μέσω των αρμόδιων Υπουργείων, της βιομηχανίας, της ελληνικής επιχειρηματικής κοινότητας, των Εθνικών Ερευνητικών μας Κέντρων και των λοιπών εμπλεκόμενων φορέων για μια πολυδιάστατη προσέγγιση όλης της αλυσίδας αξίας του υδρογόνου, ώστε μέσα στις αρχές του 2021 να κομίσει και η Ελλάδα την Εθνική της Στρατηγική για το Υδρογόνο. Αυτός άλλωστε είναι και ο ρόλος της Επιτροπής Υδρογόνου που συστάθηκε από το ΥΠΕΝ με τη συμμετοχή τόσο αξιόλογων ειδικών και επιστημόνων.

*Κωνσταντίνος Παπαλουκάς (MEng, MBA, MPA), Ειδικός σε θέματα Ενεργειακής Πολιτικής, Συντονιστής Επιτροπής για τη χάραξη Εθνικής Στρατηγικής για το Υδρογόνο

email: constantinos.papalucas@post.harvard.edu

Charles Ellinas writes for the 5th Cretan Energy Conference – International Conference & Exhibition “Gas developments in the East Med”

The international oil companies (IOCs), are still reeling under the impact of low oil and gas prices and massive losses and asset write-offs during 2020. ExxonMobil, under increasing pressure, is considering further spending cuts and even a shake-up of its board.The path to full recovery will be slow and at the end of it, in 2-3 years, the IOCs will be different, placing more emphasis on clean energy and renewables.In the meanwhile, around the East Med, Egypt is forging ahead. It has signed a new exploration agreement with Shell for an offshore block in the Red Sea. This is in addition to the 22 agreements signed during 2020 that included major IOCs such as ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP, Eni and Total. Moreover, EGPC and EGAS are planning to offer onshore and offshore exploration blocks for bidding in February.

This continuing activity led to the discovery of 47 oil and 15 natural gas fields in 2020, 13% more than in 2019, despite Covid-19.Tareq El-Molla, Egypt’s petroleum minister, signaled earlier this month Egypt’s intention to expand its petrochemicals sector to take advantage of the country’s expanding hydrocarbon resources. Egypt has updated its petrochemical national plan until 2023 to meet the increasing prospects in this industry.

LNG exports

Egypt has also benefited from the recent increase in LNG prices, resuming exports from its liquefaction plant at Idku, with most exports going to China, India and Turkey. The country is also ready to resume exports from its second liquefaction plant at Damietta starting end February. This has been lying idle since 2012 due to disputes that have now been resolved. LNG exports will mainly utilize surplus gas from the Zohr gasfield and possibly imports from Israel, should prices allow it.

In fact, the resumption of LNG exports from Idku relieved some of the pressure on Egypt’s gas market, which is in oversupply partly due to impact of the pandemic, but also due to falling gas demand in Egypt’s power sector and growth in renewable energy.El-Molla, said that Egypt is planning a revival of its LNG exports. But this depends greatly on what happens to global markets and prices.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) said that the Asian LNG demand and price spike in January was a short-term phenomenon and it is not an indicator that global demand will rebound in 2021. The IEA expects only a small recovery in global gas demand this year, after the decline in 2020, partly due to the pandemic. But given ongoing concerns over the pandemic, the rate of gas demand growth will remain uncertain. The IEA said the longer-term future of LNG markets remains challenging.

Gas from Israel

Chevron – having acquired Noble Energy and its interests in the region last year – with Delek and their partners in Israel’s Leviathan and Tamar gasfields, signed an agreement to invest $235million in a new subsea pipeline, expanding existing facilities. According to an announcement by Delek, the pipeline will connect facilities at Israeli city Ashod to the EMG pipeline at Ashkelon, enabling Chevron and its partners to increase gas exports to Egypt to as much as 7billion cubic meters annually (bcm/yr).The partners signed agreements last year to export as much as 85bcm/yr gas to Egypt over a 15 year period. Gas supplies from Israel to Egypt started in January last year.It is not clear at this stage if new agreements will be reached to fully utilize the increased export capacity from Israel to Egypt, but given Egypt’s gas oversupply this may not be likely.These developments, though, show the vulnerability of Cyprus and the weakness of relying on trilateral alliances with Egypt and Israel for its gas exports.

EastMed gas pipeline

This is being kept alive by regional politicians. Only this week, Greece, Cyprus, Israel, Bulgaria, Hungary and Serbia confirmed their support for the EastMed gas pipeline.

While such developments are good politically, bringing like-minded countries around the East Med closer together, they are not sufficient to advance the project. This requires private investment and buyers of the gas in Europe. None of these is forthcoming, because the project is not commercially viable. By the time the gas arrives in Europe it will be too expensive to compete with existing, much cheaper, supplies.

Europe is also moving away from gas and from new gas pipeline projects. Catharina Sikow Magny, Director DG Energy European Commission (EC), covered this at the European Gas Virtual conference on 28 January. Answering the question how much natural gas will the EU need in the future, she said ZERO. She was emphatic that with the EU committed to net zero emissions by 2050, by then there will be zero unabated gas consumed in Europe. In addition, with the EU having increased the emissions reduction target from 40% to 55% by 2030, the use of gas in Europe will be decreasing in order to meet the 2030 and 2050 climate targets. She said that ongoing natural gas projects are expected to be completed by 2022 – with no more needed after that.

With exports to global markets becoming increasingly difficult, there are other regional options to make use of the gas discovered so far around the East Med, including power generation in support of intermittent renewables and petrochemicals, as Egypt is doing. The newly constituted East Med Gas Forum (EMGF) should place these at the heart of its agenda.

What about Cyprus?

Hydrocarbon exploration activities around Cyprus are at a standstill, partly due to the continuing impact of Covid-19, but also due to the dire state of the IOCs and the challenges being faced by the natural gas industry in general.

This lack of activity in resuming offshore exploration may be a blessing, taking the heat off hydrocarbons, while priorities shift to discussions to resolve the Cyprus problem and the Greece-Turkey maritime disputes.

Charles Ellinas writes for the 5th Cretan Energy Conference – International Conference & Exhibition

Dr Charles Ellinas, @CharlesEllinas

Senior Fellow

Global Energy Center

Atlantic Council

 

A brave new world – Takis Pournarakis

The automotive industry moving fast towards electromobility. This will
bring dramatic changes to many areas.

Based on EU legislation, the average gas emission for each vehicle manufacturer
for vehicles registered from 1/1/2021 in Europe must be 95 g CO2/km. However,
what does this mean in practice? This means that in order to classify for example a
Mercedes AMG, they should classify at first two EQC, so that the average of the three
vehicles remains below the 95 gr CO2/km.
This will evoke immediate dramatic changes to cars produced and marketed within
the EU. Already, the very small vehicles with a thermal engine are being disappeared,
as, in the average gas emission a weight/difficulty factor is also contained. Peugeot
108, Citroen C1 stopped being manufactured, Smart is now only electric, Fiat Panda
got a hybrid version and Fiat 500 becomes electric.
If we apply the fines provided for the classifications of the new cars who emit more
than 95 gr CO2/km, making business inside EU will become almost unprofitable for
car manufacturers. The only solution left, if they want to stay active, is to pass on the
cost to the buyers.

It seems that all manufacturers will pass on some of the cost of fines to consumers,
the new car will become much more expensive and only wealthy people will be able
to buy it. Trends such as car sharing in combination with autonomous driving will
become more popular for people. Nowadays, in Athens, vehicles are parked/stacked
in traffic at 90% of their time. Imagine Athens with far fewer cars, which would be
electric, autonomous, constantly in circulation and they could communicate not only
with each other (V2V) but also with the infrastructure (V2G). Is it a science fiction
script? Do you know that in Trikala, there are two autonomous electric buses, which
transfer passengers, and they do not need a driver?

According to car manufacturers who are already preparing for the new,
completely different automobility form, in a decade, about 40% of new vehicles will
plugged in. Whether we talk about hybrid or electric vehicles, manufacturers have
decided to direct many of their investments in the development of batteries and
electric engines. In almost all the countries of the Western world, the percentage of
electric cars in circulation is increasing, reaching in some of them a double-digit
market share. This trend will raise in the following years when the European capitals
and major cities adopt the EU directive and prohibit the circulation of vehicles
emitting more than 50 gr CO2/ km in their center. The European logic "polluter pays"
that is currently in force on the traffic charges of the new cars will be renamed as
"polluter circuits limitedly ".How far are we from all these in Greece? When you see a
taxi with a Euro 2 specification, purchased in 2003-2004, leaving a black smoke
behind every time the driver speeds up, it is hard to believe that this is possible in
Athens. However, this day is no more than five years away.
With the Athens’ road network designed for 1.5 million vehicles, while today
there are the twice number of cars circulating, it is crucial for our lives to take action

to reduce pollution, noise pollution and traffic. Citizens' health and the corresponding
reduction in spending combined with saving on fossil fuels is great. Imagine a 20-
year-old SUV with three differentials and permanent four-wheel drive downtown,
next to a similar state-of-the-art plug-in hybrid model, whose thermal engine does not
run in urban areas.

PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle), BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle), Mild
Hybrid Electric Vehicle or HEV (Hybrid Electric Vehicle) pollute less or not at all,
where they circulate but they do pollute! The key question is how much they pollute
overall, in relation to vehicles using oil or gas thermal engine (ICE). A question that
takes on a completely different dimension in our country until we deregulated from
lignite. The automobility changes will be dramatic in the next few years.

 

Takis Pournarakis
Mechanical Engineer – Journalist – Chairman of the Organizing Committee of Motor Sports Organizations

 
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