Astypalaia: Showing the way to energy autonomy

Also called “Butterfly of the Aegean“, because of its particular shape. As such, it is now to be reborn from its energy cocoon and transformed into a green, autonomous enclave.“energy self-determination“, with “vehicle” the investment of Volkswagen. And it aspires through “the butterfly effect“, to drag the rest of the country into a delicate, green dependency.

The investment «Smart & Sustainable Island» was recently presented at an event in the presence of the Prime Minister Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
«The Astypalaia project is emblematic in the sense that it shows us that a world with a zero carbon footprint is possible.

We move on to the electrification of transport- in cooperation with VW - which will be combined with the installation of modern RES plants and the adoption innovative energy storage and management systems. In this way, the Astypalea is converted into energy clean and self-sufficient island, maintaining its special character and showing the way for the green policies that we are implementing throughout the country,» said in a statement to the AP, the secretary general of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, Alexandra Sdoukou.

As far as the island's electricity system is concerned, the HEDNO has already completed a study to achieve a penetration rate of renewable energy over 60 %. It provides for the development of a hybrid system which will combine renewable energy production - wind and solar - with energy storage in batteries. The total RES capacity required for the island to reach the 60% renewable penetration rate is approximately 3 MW combined with 2 MW of battery capacity and at least 7 MWh capacity.

This study is being updated in light of new energy needs for electric vehicle charging as well as developments in installation and equipment costs, and is expected to be ready next month. It should be noted, however, that electrification only increases energy needs against 15% on an annual basis according to the initial estimates, which is considered manageable. The results of the updated study will be used to define the characteristics of the hybrid system to be developed on the island in terms of size, technology and cost.

The next step is the adoption ministerial decision describing the licensing framework for the hybrid system and the conduct competition from Energy Regulatory Authority for the selection of the contractor of the project.

Green energy production and storage will be combined with smart charging technologies to manage the additional demand created by electric vehicles. This will ensure that charging will not take place at times of high energy demand, nor simultaneously for all vehicles, but will be timed with the times when there is high production from wind and/or photovoltaic.

Finally, as regards the car fleet, it is estimated that 982 electric vehicles are enough to meet the needs for which 1494 conventional vehicles are currently required. The size of the fleet will be significantly reduced thanks to the introduction of new on-demand mobility services, such as car-sharing and transport services.