Clean Energy Transition in European Islands: The Case of Crete - Greece

Climate change is currently the most severe global environmental problem creating large damages and chaos both in developed and in developing countries. Mitigation of climate change is required for controlling the temperature rise at affordable levels in the coming decades. Emissions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere should be sharply reduced soon coupled with atmospheric carbon removal using various processes. Islands are unique energy communities with specific characteristics and features. Their ecosystems are fragile and vulnerable requiring protection. Many islands have isolated electric grids that make difficult the use of renewable energies in them particularly the intermittent renewable energy sources. Each island has unique green energy resources that can be used for heat and power generation. The clean energy transition in islands requires the combined use of many carbon-free energy technologies in heat, cooling and power generation as well as in transportation. The involvement of all stakeholders in the creation of a de-carbonization plan and their commitment in its realization is a prerequisite for a successful clean energy transformation. The book is tackling the possibility of clean energy transition in the island of Crete, Greece that is important taking into account the urgent necessity to mitigate climate change and the EU goal for carbon neutrality in the continent in the coming decades. The methodology followed can be replicated in other islands with different characteristics and features. It is obvious that islands with different availability of renewable energy resources can use different technologies for energy generation compared to Crete.