Island energy initiative gets green light
The Greek Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE) has approved the development of the world’s first hybrid electricity production and storage plant on the small southeastern Aegean island of Tilos as part of a European program promoting sustainable energy.
The TILOS (Technology Innovation for Local Scale Optimum Integration of Battery Energy Storage) program is backed by the European Union, coordinated by the University of Piraeus, and includes the participation of a consortium of 15 partners from seven European countries.
The aim is to develop new energy sources on this island of 400-500 permanent residents so that it comes to produce 85 percent of its total energy needs from renewable sources, meeting both the spike in demand during the summer and selling to nearby Kos.
Once completed it will allow the small southeastern Aegean island to become almost fully independent of outside supply and more environmentally friendly. It could also serve as a blueprint for other islands around the world that are dependent on supply from the mainland or from larger islands nearby.
Responding to the news of the decision, Tilos Mayor Maria Kamma said, “Despite all its problems, our small island is not afraid to be a pioneer and to make a difference.”
