Greece’s actions for sustainable energy and the circular economy

In the context of supporting the areas of Just Development Transition, the Joint Ministerial Decision of the Minister of Environment and Energy, Kostas Skrekas and the Deputy Minister of Development and Investments responsible for such issues, Nikos Papathanasis, was signed for the approval of the Financial Program “Financing projects and actions for the development of sustainable economic activities with a low carbon footprint in regional unit of Kozani, Florina and in the Municipality of Megalopolis of Arcadia regional unit”, with a total budget of 60,671,543 euros.

The program is financed by the Green Fund, from the revenues of the emission rights auctions of 2018 and 2019 and is to be implemented in the years 2023 – 2025.

The projects and actions that will be financed through the new Program, among others, are:

Actions concerning Sustainable Energy and the Climate

● Update of the existing Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (S.D.A.E.K.) and preparation of the revised Plans.

● Pilot Energy Interventions for priority actions and for the maturation of actions based on the directions of the S.D.A.E.K.

● Energy upgrade of Florina Indoor Swimming Pool.

● Energy upgrade of Indoor Gym in Ptolemaida.

● Pilot program for the supply and installation of roof infrastructure in small open sports areas of the Municipalities to deal with the effects of extreme weather conditions due to climate change.

Actions concerning the Circular Economy

● Preparation of local Action Plans for the Circular Economy.

● Pilot Interventions for priority actions and for the maturation of actions based on the directions of the Action Plans for the promotion of the circular economy.

● Phase I of the Implementation of the Axis Elaboration of the required studies and the planning and licensing procedures of the integrated waste management system.

● Development of a Network for the Collection and Management of Used Pesticide Packages.

Actions concerning the Energy Communities

● Reducing the energy footprint of the Local Vessel Improvement Groups (T.O.E.V.) of the lignite areas.

● Program to Support and Strengthen Small and Medium Enterprises

● Special Town Planning Plans

Actions related to the reduction of the energy footprint

● Elaboration of Studies and Tender Documents for the Energy Upgrade of the Educational Building Complexes and Facilities of the OAED in the Just Development Transition (D.A.M.) areas.

● Photovoltaics on Roofs Program – Pilot Program.

● Maturation studies of the asbestos roof removal project of the Municipality of Megalopolis.

● Elaboration of Studies and Tender Documents for the Energy Upgrade of the Building Facilities of the University of Western Macedonia.

Actions concerning the green transformation of the Just Development Transition fields

● Education and awareness actions on Green Development issues.

● Creation of a Youth, Education and Innovation Center in Florina.

● Property utilization study for its configuration into a student residence.

● Feasibility study for the utilization of the water resources of the Municipality of Kozani.

● Chymaditis irrigator study.

● Vegoritis irrigator study.

● Action Plans for Urban Revitalization and Diversification of the local economy.

● Study of a 5,500-seat open soccer field and athletics training ground at the site of the former “CAPTAIN FOUFA” camp in Ptolemaida.

Actions to promote innovation and support the productive transformation of businesses

● Hydrogen Innovation Hub Establishment Maturity Study.

● Innovation Zone Reception Area in the Municipality of Kozani.

● Actions to mature the implementation of the Industrial Park in the Municipality of Eordea.

● Feasibility study for the establishment of the Mediterranean Center for Entrepreneurship and Peloponnese.