00:02Achios Estratios, or Aestratis to the Greeks, is a remote Greek island that has achieved energy independence with renewables.
00:11Located in the northeast of the Aegean Sea, this small volcanic island of just 250 inhabitants literally thrives on sun
00:19and wind.
00:20It used to be totally dependent on fossil fuels.
00:23It now produces more than 90% of electricity with renewables and thus avoids the emission of tons of CO2
00:30in the atmosphere.
00:32This island saves 1,000 tons of CO2 every year out of this project.
00:39The cost of electricity generation now is steady, predictable.
00:44The people in Agios Estratios do not care anymore about oil markets.
00:49They don't care about what happens in Ormoe Straits because it doesn't affect them.
00:59The key is a 900 kilowatt wind turbine, a 225 kilowatt photovoltaic park, a storage battery and automated management.
01:11Any excess energy is being stored in the battery and also releases power when there is a shortage on the
01:18production of the renewables.
01:20And during winter, any surplus from the renewable energy production is being utilized to produce thermal energy.
01:29This is stored in this four hot water storage tanks of a total volume of 500 cubic meters.
01:37Green energy from renewables is distributed to the inhabitants using the existing power grid.
01:45As for heating, fuel independence is a relief for this owner of two apartments on the island.
02:08The total budget for this project amounts to 7.23 million euros, of which 85% has been funded by
02:16the cohesion policy of the European Union.
02:19And the remaining 15% by national funds.
02:25For the implementation of this pioneering project, it was necessary to modify the Greek regulatory framework.
02:32Because it's a pilot project, the regulatory framework was very general and not specifically concentrated to such a system which
02:44has a lot of particularities.
02:50Aestratis is at the forefront of the green energy transition in Europe.
02:58Aestratis
