Energy poverty is a major issue faced by many islands in Greece. The lack of access to reliable and affordable energy affects the daily lives of citizens, hinders economic growth and development, and exacerbates environmental degradation. Nine island municipalities have been awarded technical assistance by the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub (EPAH)_and will be accompanied by the expert organisation INZEB to carry out four main activities. Firstly, a diagnosis adapted to the local realities of the beneficiary islands will be conducted to understand and capture the energy poverty levels. The results of the diagnosis, along with local indicators identified for energy poverty mitigation, will be incorporated into the local climate plans. The technical assistance will also focus on creating a centralised One-Stop-Shop (OSS) to provide citizens with access to technical information and services related to energy poverty. To engage the beneficiaries and local stakeholders, a communication plan will be developed to promote the use of the OSS and raise awareness among citizens. Additionally, local staff will receive capacity building on the different activities and methodological approach to ensure the sustainability of the project.
The beneficiaries of the technical assistance, which started in January 2023 and will last until September 2023, are Antiparos, Astypalea, Ikaria, Kassos, Limnos, Mykonos, Sifnos, and Skiathos.
Antiparos, a small island located in the Aegean Sea, is one of the many islands in Greece that faces energy poverty effects. Despite its growing tourism industry, the island’s lack of a stable energy supply affects its residents and businesses, making it difficult for them to access reliable energy for their daily needs. This has resulted in increased dependence on expensive and polluting fossil fuels, leading to environmental degradation and increased carbon emissions.
Astypalea, another Aegean Island, is also affected by energy poverty. The lack of access to stable energy supplies affects the island’s tourism industry and the daily lives of its citizens. The increasing use of fossil fuels for energy has also led to environmental degradation and increased carbon emissions, making it difficult for the island to sustain its eco-friendly tourism industry.
Ikaria, located in the northeastern Aegean Sea, is another island facing energy poverty. Despite its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, the lack of access to reliable energy has limited the island’s economic development and reduced the quality of life for its residents. Ikaria is also vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including increased frequency of power outages, making it more difficult to access energy for daily needs.
Kassos, a small island located in the southeastern Aegean Sea, also faces energy poverty. The lack of access to reliable energy has affected the island’s tourism industry and made it difficult for residents to access energy for their daily needs. This has led to increased dependence on expensive and polluting fossil fuels, causing environmental degradation and increased carbon emissions.
Limnos, a large island located in the northern Aegean Sea, is also affected by energy poverty. Despite its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, the island’s lack of access to reliable energy has limited its economic growth and development. This has resulted in increased dependence on expensive and polluting fossil fuels, causing environmental degradation and increased carbon emissions.
Mykonos, a popular tourist destination in the Aegean Sea, is also affected by energy poverty. The island’s growing tourism industry relies on a stable energy supply, but the lack of access to reliable energy has limited its economic growth and development. This has resulted in increased dependence on expensive and polluting fossil fuels, causing environmental degradation and increased carbon emissions.
Sifnos, located in the western Aegean Sea, is another island facing energy poverty. Despite its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty, the island’s lack of access to reliable energy has limited its economic growth and development. This has resulted in increased dependence on expensive and polluting fossil fuels, causing environmental degradation and increased carbon emissions.
Skiathos, a popular tourist destination located in the northeastern Aegean Sea, is also affected by energy poverty. The island’s growing tourism industry relies on a stable energy supply, but the lack of access to reliable energy has limited its economic growth and development. This has resulted in increased dependence on expensive and polluting fossil fuels, causing environmental degradation and increased carbon emissions.
Psara, a small island located in the northeastern Aegean Sea, is also affected by energy poverty. The lack of access to reliable energy has affected the island’s tourism industry and made it difficult for residents to access energy for their daily needs.
About EPAH
EPAH, the leading EU initiative run by the European Commission at the request of the European Parliament, launched this opportunity to eradicate energy poverty and accelerate the just energy transition of European local governments. The public call for technical assistance aims to provide high-quality tailored support to local governments in their fight against energy poverty. As a result of the first call, 35 municipalities from across Europe, including the nine Greek municipalities, were selected to receive tailored support. EPAH will launch a second public call in 2023. This is an exciting opportunity to address the energy needs of the local community and make a positive impact on the lives of citizens.