Greek quest to save on energy bills spurs island-owned renewables

(Reuters, 25 Jul 2022) Rising electricity bills spur Greek island authorities to set up their own solar plants, with a view to meeting energy needs with locally produced power and cutting costs for residents and businesses.

Even with his 35-room beach-front hotel on the Greek island of Tilos close to fully booked, owner Michalis Kipraios worries his business might not "survive" sky-rocketing electricity bills, as the war in Ukraine drives up energy prices around the world.

Tilos, 360 km (224 miles) southeast of Athens, is affected even though in 2019 it became one of the Mediterranean’s first islands to generate enough wind and solar power to meet most of its needs, including hosting thousands of tourists each summer.

Tilos went the extra mile to go green by welcoming a private renewable power project, leaving many confused as to why the price of their energy is still rising.

“I really don’t understand why we have to pay those high bills if we have wind energy,” said Kipraios. “That’s why I have no hair,” quipped the slender man in a canary-yellow polo shirt. Other islanders are asking the same question.

The answer - that all Greek electricity consumers pay a uniform tariff for grid power no matter how much clean energy is produced in their region - is pushing the island government to launch a new solar project of its own.

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Reuters, 25 Jul 2022: Greek quest to save on energy bills spurs island-owned renewables