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Climate & Energy

Greece rushes to exit coal amid carbon price surge

Nikos Mantzaris discusses with journalist Cristina Brooks the developments leading to the recent decision by PPC and the Greek government to move forward the lignite phase out by 3 years, to 2025, and how Greece’s last lignite plant, Ptolemaida 5, can be converted into a sustainable renewables-based energy storage facility providing cheaper electricity than a fossil gas plant which is currently PPC’s default plan for the post-lignite future of Ptolemaida 5.

Environmental permit terms for wind farms

Based on an analysis of 101 environmental permits for wind farms in Greece, the Green Tank and Nature Conservation Consultants (NCC) document differentiated approaches in the permitting process and recommend the adoption of a harmonized approach across the country. The promotion of renewable energy sources (RES) is the central tool for achieving the country's climate…

Renewables is the first source of energy in Greece

Nikos Mantzaris commented on the progress of renewables compared to other energy sources in Greece's electricity mix as it becomes apparent from the analysis of IPTO data for the first quarter of 2021, as well as the consequences of this development, to Machie Tratsa, journalist of Finacial Post.

6 reasons for the reform of the Greek National Energy and Climate Plan

Opinion piece by Nikos Mantzaris in huffingtopost.gr on the reasons which render the immediate reform of the Greek National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) necessary.

EU after Lignite and Coal

Analysis on the evolution of gross electricity production from different energy sources in EU-27 Members States since the beginning of the century as well as on the challenges for the future arising from the observed trends.

Trends in electricity production – March 2021

According to the latest data for the interconnected electricity network from ADMIE (March 2021): Renewables fill in the shoes of lignite: For the first time renewables (RES) become the first source of electricity in Greece during the 1st quarter of the year, surpassing fossil gas, lignite and net imports.

How the EU Modernization Fund can be a driver for the fossil-free energy transformation

With a view to the forthcoming revision of the European Emissions Trading System Directive, the Green Tank, in collaboration with 5 other environmental organizations under the auspices of Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe, is presenting its position on the key issue of the Modernization Fund which is expected to accumulate funds in the order of 25 billion euro during the decade 2021-2030.

Greece brings coal exit forward three years to 2025

The Europe Beyond Coal Campaign welcomes Greece’s earlier exit from lignite which is marked by PPC's decision to convert its last lignite plant "Ptolemaida" 5 in a different technology by 2025 but warns against the wrong choice in the replacement technology.

Replacement options for Ptolemaida 5

Alternative replacement options of converting the "Ptolemaida 5" lignite plant are compared in a techno-economic analysis prepared by enervis in collaboration with the Green Tank and Client Earth.

Transforming the economy through the European Green Deal

Nikos Mantzaris gave a speech on the European Green Deal to postgraduate students of the Department of Journalism and Mass Media on Tuesday, April 13, 2021.

End of the road for super-polluting Greek lignite power plant

The Green Tank, an Athens-based environmental think tank and ClientEarth, an organization of environment lawyers, have announced today their decision to withdraw their challenge against the Greek government’s decision to illegally extend the lifetime of one of its most polluting plants, the lignite-fired Thermal Power Station (TPS) Amyntaio.

Elements of a National Climate Law

Nikos Mantzaris participated in an online debate on the formulation of a national Framework Climate Law organized by the Institute for Sustainable Development of the European Public Law Organization (EPLO) on Thursday, April 8, 2021.

Official end for four of Greece’s lignite units

Announcement on the decision by the Greek Regulatory Authority for Energy (RAE) to permanently retire four lignite units, Kardia I-II and Amyntaio I-II, with a total gross nominal capacity of 1200 MW, representing 27% of Greece’s total lignite capacity.

Comments on the National Recovery and Resilience Plan

The Green Tank submits to the public debate its comments on Greece's National Recovery and Resilience Plan.