For the implementation of the project, all the permits required by Greek legislation were obtained, along with the necessary environmental studies.
A Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) was prepared for the project, in accordance with national and European legislation. The SEIA aimed to systematically evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the design, installation and operation of the new hybrid system, which integrates Renewable Energy Sources (RES) with storage and cogeneration units.
The study examined alternative scenarios for siting and technological design, as well as the benefits for both the natural and anthropogenic environment of the island. Special attention was given to reducing pollutant emissions, enhancing energy autonomy and preserving the unique landscape of Agios Efstratios.
The Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) served as a key tool for decision-making and environmental permitting of the project, ensuring sustainable development and the protection of the island’s environment.
Following the completion and evaluation of the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) by the competent authorities, the Environmental Terms Approval Decision (ETAD) was issued. This decision defines the conditions and restrictions under which the project may be implemented and operated.
The purpose of the ETAD is to ensure that the project is carried out in a way that minimizes negative environmental impacts, complies with environmental protection requirements for both the natural and built environment, and is monitored and controlled according to specific environmental standards.
For the needs of the project, it was necessary to establish a special regulatory framework for the management and operation of the integrated system, including the specific licensing procedures for the unified project, pricing principles, and the structure of operational support.
This framework was developed through successive consultations among the relevant institutional authorities (Ministry of Environment and Energy, Regulatory Authority for Energy, Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator), initiated by the Center for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving (CRES), with scientific support from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), whose contribution to the project’s design was crucial and highly valuable.