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The non-interconnected islands in Greece are electrified primarily with diesel generators. According to the Greek National Energy and Climate Plan, several islands that are not scheduled to connect to the mainland grid will be converted into green energy islands. A flagship green energy transition project is on the island of Agios Efstratios with the project "Ai Stratis – Green Island". This study modelled the proposed design of the public call (Scenario 1) with the software HOMER Pro and compared it with two other designs in respect to RES penetration missions and economics. The proposed design of the public call projected excellent performance in respect to RES penetration with 82.8%. This study proposed Scenario 2 that was significantly less expensive than the public call, with an initial investment of €1.45M vs €3.00M of the public call. In addition, Scenario 2 had an LCOE of 0.149 €/kWh in comparison to the LCOE of 0.271 €/kWh for Scenario 1 and the sensitivity analysis showed that the LCOE of Scenario 2 has very small fluctuations. This study can provide a blueprint for the expansion of green energy transition projects since the lower cost of the initial installation may allow more projects to be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of agriculture is linked to energy resources. Consequently, energy analysis in agroecosystems could be a useful tool for monitoring some measures in the agricultural sector to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. The objectives of this study were to (a) evaluate differences of energy indices in orange and kiwi orchards, and (b) point out whether inputs, outputs, efficiency, productivity, and carbon footprint can play a key role in crop replacement. Proportional stratified random sampling was used to select 26 orchards (10 oranges, 16 kiwis) from the Prefecture of Arta, western Greece, during 2015 and 2016. Univariate statistical methods were combined with multivariate ones. Nitrogen, Mg, Zn, herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, renewable energy inputs, fruit production, total outputs, and energy efficiency and productivity were statistically significantly high in the orange orchards. Phosphorus, Ca, irrigation, machinery, total inputs, intensity, non-renewable energy consumption, and carbon footprint were statistically significantly high in the kiwi orchards. The most important energy inputs for both fruit crops were fertilizers, fuels, irrigation, machinery, and herbicides. The orange orchards seem to be more friendly to the environment than the kiwi orchards by having low total energy inputs 32,210.3 MJ ha−1, intensity 1.4, consumption of non-renewable energy 0.7 MJ kg−1 and CO2 equivalent/fruit production 0.08 kg kg−1, and high energy outputs 105,120.0 MJ ha−1 and fruit production 53,648.0 kg ha−1. The findings of the present study show a relation between climate change and the production of farming systems, which can be a tool for decision makers. The correlation of the abovementioned parameters ensure higher profits and could help in achieving the best possible sustainable management of the agricultural ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the potential of energy crops to provide a stock material for biofuel production three crops (rapeseed, sunflower and sweet sorghum) were studied in field experiments in Thessaly, Central Greece in 2007 and 2008. The cropping activities were recorded. Energy analysis was carried out to assess benefits from the crops. Power requirements and energy consumption during field operations were measured directly using instrumented tractors. Literature data was used for the energy sequestered to the inputs of the system (indirect energy). Energy budgets were produced taking into account as output either the seed or including the stalks for the two oil seed crops. The results showed that in all cases positive energy balances were achieved. Analysis of the inputs showed that energy for fertilizer was the most important for the rain fed rapeseed but irrigation for sunflower and sweet sorghum. Pumping depth of the irrigation water had a high impact on the energy inputs of the irrigated crops. The overall results gave maximum energy efficiency coefficients of 4.62 for rapeseed without the stalks and 10.68 with stalks, of 2.89 for sunflower without the stalks and 6.16 with stalks and 8.92 for sweet sorghum. An analysis of data from the literature was carried out to assess the effect of new technological developments to the energy sequestered to different inputs. Several developments are expected to improve energy efficiency coefficient, such as variable rate application of inputs, as well as properly designed crop rotations and use of cover crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To date, landfilling remains the most common waste management practice in Greece in spite of enforced regulations aiming at increasing recycling, pre-selection of waste and energy and material recovery. In this study, selected alternative scenarios aiming at minimizing the unused material fraction to be disposed of in landfills are analyzed, using the life cycle assessment methodology. The methodology was applied in the case of municipal solid waste (MSW) management in Athens and Thessaloniki, with a special focus on energy and material balance, including potential global and local scale airborne emissions. Results are given in the form of indices efficiency, effectiveness, environmental and public health impacts. Material flow accounting, gross energy requirement, emergy intensity, emission and release intensity and morbidity or mortality indicators have been used to support the comparative assessment. However, not all options are equally benign to the local environment and to the health of the local population, since both the former and the latter are still affected by non-negligible local emissions. With regard to public health impacts, adverse effects on respiratory health, congenital malformations, low birth weight and cancer incidence were estimated. A significant and not intuitive result is the fact that life cycle analysis produces different conclusions than a simple environmental impact assessment based only on estimated or measured emissions. Taking into account the overall life cycle of both the waste streams and of the technological systems and facilities envisaged alters the relative attractiveness of the solutions considered. • Exposome life cycle impact assessment extends life cycle analysis to support integrated assessment of waste management. • Landfilling results in larger health impacts than incineration. • Waste-to-Energy systems provide a low energy output compared to metropolitan energy demand. • Coupling recycling with anaerobic digestion is ideal for managing metropolitan waste with high percentage of food residues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]