MEDIA NEWSLETTER May 2010

Debt restructuring, austerity measures and an EU-IMF bail-out. Pay cuts, tax increases and the threat of a spreading financial crisis. Such headlines are filling the news pages and overshadowing the everyday positive developments coming from Greece. But good news continues, particularly in the sustainable energy sector.

Countless projects dedicated to maximising the benefits of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency are spread across Greece, and project organisers - along with local industry and citizens -- realise the economic benefits their efforts are making.

In the energy sector, the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign managed by the European Commission's Executive Agency for Competitiveness & Innovation (EACI) identifies public and private institutions, companies and organisations that are implementing sustainable energy actions across the 27 EU Member States.

What's working in Greece?

In Greece, a series of Sustainable Energy Europe campaign projects are providing measurable results

The island of Crete, as one example, has built a treatment plant that converts used vegetable oil (frying oils, much of which is 'supplied' by the local restaurant and tourism industry) to use as fuel for buses in its pubic transportation system. Two collection companies devoted to capturing the used frying oil help to ensure not only that the oils are not dumped into the island's precious water and sewage system, but that it is put to good use. The use of the converted oil decreases use of conventional fuels, thereby decreasing fossil fuel emissions from the buses. And the island decreases its reliance on external energy supplies, to boot. For more information click here.

A biogas power effort is a current focus of authorities in Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. In 2006, a unit was constructed to capture biogas from the city's main landfill and convert it to electric power. The benefits are three-fold: first, renewable energy is produced. Second, the unit's collection of the biogas is helping to eliminate the odours that would otherwise be emitted. Finally, the power produced will be provided to the national grid, thereby reducing reliance on non-sustainable sources. For more information click here.

A consortium of Greek experts (private and public sector as well as technical academicians) has designed a cutting-edge online energy information system. The web-based education programme is available to commercial and industrial companies, and the software gives users the tools to easily manage their total energy use, learn about consumption 'clustering' patterns, and determine the amount of energy and carbon dioxide emissions that could be saved - including tracking potential improvements with reliance on renewable energy resources. For more information click here.

Efforts by Coca-Cola Hellenic, the largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola products in Europe, will help the company reduce its CO2 emissions by between 40 and 75 per cent across production facilities in 12 European countries. The Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units that use natural gas and capture and reuse heat from power generation will provide all power needs for the plants - including heat, cooling and electricity. The units also capture CO2 and use it for product carbonation. For more information click here.

One island is leading the way

Maintaining a supply of drinking water - especially during the tourist season when demand can double - is a constant consideration for all of the Greek isles. Symi, one of Greece's more than 200 inhabited islands, developed a desalination plant powered by renewable energy sources, knowing that it would have economic benefits, as well as be environmentally-sound. After careful study of the options, Symi authorities decided to construct a wind-powered desalination plant.

The project is inspiring other islands to implement similar efforts. 'Symi has provided a successful best-practice example for others. Based on what has worked in Symi, Greece's Ministry of Public Infrastructure has issued a public tender, in fact, to put in place such plants on 17 other Greek islands,' said Ioannis Agapitidis, president of the Centre for Renewable Energy Sources (CRES). CRES is the Greek national entity for the promotion of renewable energy sources, rational use of energy and energy conservation.

Symi has also installed solar-powered street lamps across the island. Photovoltaic panels are especially convenient in areas of the island that are more remote, or where the electricity grid is not easily accessible. In addition to the electrical savings, installation costs for PV lamps are just 20 per cent of the cost of installing conventional models, and maintenance costs are minimal. For more information click here.

Organisers in Symi appreciate that the renewable energy project's aims must take into consideration the perceived threat of aesthetic problems. Greece's tourism industry is estimated to contribute 15 per cent of the nation's overall GDP, so authorities cannot risk building a windfarm, for example, that could detract from the beauty of a Symi sunset view.

Thus, officials in Symi are making every effort to maintain an income stream from tourism while creating sustainable, economically-wise long-term energy solutions - a particularly vital combination considering the country's current economic woes.


MEDIA NEWSLETTER May 2010
	The sun is shining on renewable energy projects in Greece

	Sustainable Energy Europe News

	Agenda of upcoming Campaign Events and Energy Days

	The sun is shining on renewable energy projects in Greece Debt restructuring, austerity measures and an EU-IMF bail-out. Pay cuts, tax increases and the threat of a spreading financial crisis. Such headlines are filling the news pages and overshadowing the everyday positive developments coming from Greece. But good news continues, particularly in the sustainable energy sector. Countless projects dedicated to maximising the benefits of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency are spread across Greece, and project organisers - along with local industry and citizens -- realise the economic benefits their efforts are making. In the energy sector, the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign managed by the European Commission's Executive Agency for Competitiveness & Innovation (EACI) identifies public and private institutions, companies and organisations that are implementing sustainable energy actions across the 27 EU Member States. What's working in Greece? In Greece, a series of Sustainable Energy Europe campaign projects are providing measurable results The island of Crete, as one example, has built a treatment plant that converts used vegetable oil (frying oils, much of which is 'supplied' by the local restaurant and tourism industry) to use as fuel for buses in its pubic transportation system. Two collection companies devoted to capturing the used frying oil help to ensure not only that the oils are not dumped into the island's precious water and sewage system, but that it is put to good use. The use of the converted oil decreases use of conventional fuels, thereby decreasing fossil fuel emissions from the buses. And the island decreases its reliance on external energy supplies, to boot. For more information click here. A biogas power effort is a current focus of authorities in Thessaloniki, Greece's second largest city. In 2006, a unit was constructed to capture biogas from the city's main landfill and convert it to electric power. The benefits are three-fold: first, renewable energy is produced. Second, the unit's collection of the biogas is helping to eliminate the odours that would otherwise be emitted. Finally, the power produced will be provided to the national grid, thereby reducing reliance on non-sustainable sources. For more information click here. A consortium of Greek experts (private and public sector as well as technical academicians) has designed a cutting-edge online energy information system. The web-based education programme is available to commercial and industrial companies, and the software gives users the tools to easily manage their total energy use, learn about consumption 'clustering' patterns, and determine the amount of energy and carbon dioxide emissions that could be saved - including tracking potential improvements with reliance on renewable energy resources. For more information click here. Efforts by Coca-Cola Hellenic, the largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola products in Europe, will help the company reduce its CO2 emissions by between 40 and 75 per cent across production facilities in 12 European countries. The Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units that use natural gas and capture and reuse heat from power generation will provide all power needs for the plants - including heat, cooling and electricity. The units also capture CO2 and use it for product carbonation. For more information click here. One island is leading the way Maintaining a supply of drinking water - especially during the tourist season when demand can double - is a constant consideration for all of the Greek isles. Symi, one of Greece's more than 200 inhabited islands, developed a desalination plant powered by renewable energy sources, knowing that it would have economic benefits, as well as be environmentally-sound. After careful study of the options, Symi authorities decided to construct a wind-powered desalination plant. The project is inspiring other islands to implement similar efforts. 'Symi has provided a successful best-practice example for others. Based on what has worked in Symi, Greece's Ministry of Public Infrastructure has issued a public tender, in fact, to put in place such plants on 17 other Greek islands,' said Ioannis Agapitidis, president of the Centre for Renewable Energy Sources (CRES). CRES is the Greek national entity for the promotion of renewable energy sources, rational use of energy and energy conservation. Symi has also installed solar-powered street lamps across the island. Photovoltaic panels are especially convenient in areas of the island that are more remote, or where the electricity grid is not easily accessible. In addition to the electrical savings, installation costs for PV lamps are just 20 per cent of the cost of installing conventional models, and maintenance costs are minimal. For more information click here. Organisers in Symi appreciate that the renewable energy project's aims must take into consideration the perceived threat of aesthetic problems. Greece's tourism industry is estimated to contribute 15 per cent of the nation's overall GDP, so authorities cannot risk building a windfarm, for example, that could detract from the beauty of a Symi sunset view. Thus, officials in Symi are making every effort to maintain an income stream from tourism while creating sustainable, economically-wise long-term energy solutions - a particularly vital combination considering the country's current economic woes.
	Sustainable Energy Europe News 500 cities at the Covenant of Mayors Ceremony in the European Parliament On May 4th in the presence of the President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, and the Prime Minister of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, 500 local authorities from 36 different countries participated in the Covenant of Mayors Ceremony at the European Parliament, including the mayors of Stockholm, Lisbon and Rome. For more information click HERE. Commission awards Sustainable Energy Prizes The winners of the Sustainable Energy Europe Awards 2010 were announced on 23 March 2010 at the Sustainable Energy Week in Brussels. The five winners were chosen from among 272 projects. Günther Oettinger, Commissioner responsible for Energy said: "I am pleased to witness such growing interest in this award, with so many high quality entries year after year. My praise goes to the five winners as well as to all the organisations and the individuals around Europe that are working to ensure a more sustainable energy future for us all.". Read more HERE. Malta teenagers go EUSEW A Campaign Associate of the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign, the Malta Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energies Association, has promoted during the EU Sustainable Energy Week 2010 an activity at St Ignatius College in Malta. The event engaged a number of motivated pupils at St. Ignatius College B.S.S. in activities to promote energy efficiency in building design and the use of renewable energy. The project Going Renewable encourages pupils to think about and create their own energy solutions, and has therefore a great replication potential in schools all over the EU. A short documentary on this inspiring project can be seen HERE. European Solar Days: Join the 2010 campaign The European Solar Days aim at promoting the use of the sun as an energy source for all solar applications, Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic, throughout Europe. The first European Solar Days were celebrated in May 2008 when over 4000 different events were staged in 13 European countries. The second edition took place from 15 to 22 May 2009 in even more countries. Other countries are invited to join the 2010 campaign which will run from 1 to 16 May. Hopefully, in a few years, the European Solar Days will be celebrated across Europe. This initiative brings together major players from the solar thermal and solar electricity sectors throughout Europe. The European Solar Days, are coordinated by ESTIF in close cooperation with EPIA. For more information click HERE. 3rd EHPA European Heat Pump Conference The European Heat Pump Association, is organising on 20 Mai 2010, the 3rd EHPA European Heat Pump Conference in the premises of the EU representation of Baden-Württemberg in Brussels, Belgium. The conference dedicates a session to the RES Directive and the corresponding National Renewable Energy Action Plans. To register click HERE.
	Agenda of upcoming Campaign Events and Energy Days Dream Apéro "Développement durable et solidarité Brussels, Belgium - 19/05/2010 Contact: Véronique van der Wielen Organised by Des Rêves Plein le Monde .be asbl The Days of Renewable Energy in Calabria Lamezia Terme - Italy - 20/05/2010 - 22/05/2010 Contact: Nicola De Nardi Organised by Rossano Municipality Alla Luce del Sole Lecce Puglia - Italy - 23/05/2010 - 24/05/2010 Contact: Luciana Delle Donne Organised by Officina Creativa Brokerage Event on Environmental Technologies Seville - Spain - 26/05/2010 - 26/05/2010 Contact: Lucía Díaz Martín Organised by CITAndalucía ENERGY and ENVIRONMENT WEEK Porto - Portugal - 29/05/2010 - 5/06/2010 Contact: Maria João Samúdio Organised by AdEPorto Optima's Green Week Birmingham - United Kingdom - 1/06/2010 - 5/06/2010 Contact: Bernadette McCullagh Organised by Optima Community Association Teaming up for energy renewal: cogeneration and district heating Brussels - Belgium - 2/06/2010 - 2/06/2010 Contact: Stefan Craenen Organised by COGEN Europe PlanetSolar - Arrival of the boat and the Itinerant Village London - United Kingdom - 15/06/2010 Contact: Assia Simeonova Organised by Grand Chelem Management SA HIDROENERGIA 2010 Lausanne - Switzerland - 16/06/2010 - 19/06/2010 Contact: Gema Sanbruno Organised by ESHA Transformer Diagnostics and Maintenance Symposium Helsinki - Finland - 16/06/2010 - 18/06/2010 Contact: Adriana Hyrylo Organised by KiL-Voitelutekniikka Oy Salon des Energies Renouvelables Paris - France - 17/06/2010 - 19/06/2010 Contact: Arnaud Wigniolle Organised by SEPELCOM Second German Electric Vehicle Congress Bonn - Germany - 17/06/2010 - 18/06/2010 Contact: Nicklas Monte Organised by nova-Institut Energy Days in Messina Messina - Italy - 18/06/2010 - 20/06/2010 Contact: Martina Mansueto Organised by Attiva srl Velo-city Global 2010 Copenhagen - Denmark - 22/06/2010 - 25/06/2010 Contact: Anne Sofie Borg Organised by City of Copenhagen Week End ENERGIE / Eco Académie Rebecq - Belgium - 24/06/2010 - 28/06/2010 Contact: Philippe De Leener Organised by Retrorganisation asbl AEBIOM European Bioenergy Conference & Renexpo® Bioenergy Europe Brussels - Belgium - 30/06/2010 - 1/07/2010 Contact: Elisabetta Alberti Organised by REECO Belgium sprl Green City Energy International Forum Pisa - Italy - 1/07/2010 - 3/07/2010 Contact: Gloria Cottafava Organised by Clickutility srl
For more information and media assistance please contact the Campaign's Media Manager Kostas Mastakas on +32 (0) 2 3335967 - email: media.relations@sustenergy.org