Going Green

On our recent trip north we drove past the Saint Dimitrios Power Station, largest of the Greek power plants, generating a total capacity of 1,600 MW. It is easily recognizable with its three 200 metre-high flue gas stacks. Their red and white bands remind me of the patterned stockings worn by Pantomime dames!!

   

Since this area supplies most of the electrical power for the entire country, there are several plants in evidence but most are no longer productive. This is because energy production is undergoing a rapid transitional phase moving towards clean electricity production.

Lignite was traditionally the dominant resource but is now being reduced with a commitment made to phase it out by 2028. Other key energy resources are: natural gas: 36-45%; renewables:40-50% (solar 22.5%, wind 21%). From 2013 solar energy has been making an increasingly significant impact and great swathes of solar panels can be seen throughout the country.

Current goals are for over 61% of the electrical power to come from renewables by 2030  and an overall aim for Greece to be carbon neutral by 2050.

The lowcarbonpower.org diagram below demonstrates the changing face of electricity generation in Greece from 1980 to the present time.

Added to this is another energy-related development: the current EXXON exploratory offshore drilling for natural gas in the Ionian Sea. 

Current findings predict that drilling may begin in 2027. Success in this field could mean Greece would be well on her way to achieving energy sustainability and security. We live in very exciting times! 😊 

Flying High

We live in the eastern region of Thessaloniki and when we need to go to the centre, to avoid parking issues, we tend to use bus services from the local transport hub. We rarely use the Ring Road which in itself is congested at peak times and has a high accident rate. It was built in the 1990s, affording access to the city and the Egnatia Road motorway, which runs west to east across the country from Igoumenitsa to the Kypous border with Turkey.

Much in need of improvement to cater for high traffic volume, the 4-year project, costing around 478 million euros, began in late 2023.

Below is an artist’s impression of the broadened route spanned by an elevated crossing.

Recently, as we headed off for a trip to the north, we were able to see close-up the great progress that is being made.

What were previously little pockets of activity with isolated pieces of structure in evidence, now appear to be joining other disparate puzzle pieces so that we begin to comprehend how they fit into the overall design.

Certainly, local users have been frustrated by traffic flow disruption due to the ongoing work- including old bridge spans being dismantled and requiring total road closure. But their patience will pay off once the eastern section of the 22 km ring road is widened and upgraded. The additional construction includes a 12 km elevated expressway, 9 interchanges, 8 bridges and tunnels and it aims to redirect about 30% of the traffic to this higher level.

The Avax-Mytilineos Consortium, responsible for the major construction work, are to be commended for the efficient and rapid execution of the project which is due for completion in May 2027.

What with our new metro currently being extended, Thessaloniki is eventually moving forward.

 Once this Flyover Project is completed – and doesn’t it look grand above? -   we will really be flying high!