What are the challenges for the development of Renewables?

Nikos Mantzaris participated in a discussion on the challenges related to the development of Renewable Energy Sources at the Athens Energy Dialogues conference on Thursday, February 18, 2021.

Are renewables developing too slowly for the planet but too fast for the energy system? What are the particular challenges for renewables in Greece? What are the difficulties in creating a stable clean energy market? What is the role energy storage will play? Apart from Nikos Mantzaris, these questions were addressed by Dr. Sanna Markkanen, Research Associate, Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership, Dr. Arthur Zervos, Chair, REN21, Kevin Sara, Chairman, Nur Energie, UK and Nikos Papapetrou, General Manager Renewables & Storage Development (RSD) Business Unit, MYTILINEOS, while the session was coordinated by Dr Valentina Dedi, KBR Lead Economist .

In his speech on the special challenges faced by RES in Greece, Nikos Mantzaris focused on the importance of energy storage and the need to revise the respective 2030 national targets for renewables and storage in Greece’s National Energy and Climate Plan; the emphasis that should be given to effectively addressing the threats for the protection of biodiversityarising from the development of renewables, the need to simplify and accelerate the permitting process without however any discounts in the protection of nature, but also the importance of information and dialogue with the local communities which currently oppose the development of renewables.

You can watch the full 34’discussion here (in English)

You can also read the corresponding piece of energypress.gr covering the conference here (in Greek)