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Modernizing our activities with the use of technological innovation and robotics, we created the first automated robotic system for grass cutting in our plants

Grass cutting is a key activity of the operation of a solar park. Regular maintenance of vegetation around the panels ensures seamless collection of solar rays, prevents problems such as shading, which affect the efficiency of the project, and creates a major firefighting zone. Special methods, such as the use of sheep for grazing, can enhance sustainability and reduce carbon emissions associated with traditional cutting methods.

Recognizing the need for grass cutting automation in our solar parks throughout Greece, we decided to develop an innovative tool, in collaboration with the digital transformation company iKnowHow. So, we worked on creating an automated, robotic system that could, with full autonomy, mow the grasses and small bushes in the area of the solar park. Finally, we designed the robot Aristos, which started its operation in the parks of Larissa and Ekta.

Facing the challenges

It was the first time that a company that produces energy from renewable sources implemented such an innovative project, as the program was not only for research purposes but aimed to meet a real need for operational procedures. During the research, we conducted several tests to perfect the operation of the robot and make sure that it will be reliable and flexible at the same time, so that it can move comfortably under the panels.

The final model Aristos, already in operation, measures 1.20x1.50 meters and weighs 200 kg. Our goal is to ensure the efficiency of the tool, which can pave the way for the development of even more robotic solutions for renewable energy parks, as the possibilities of technology are endless.

Multiple benefits

This initiative is of key importance for our company, as the use of robotics leads to a reduction in the cost of continuous grass cutting required for the proper operation of solar parks. At the same time, this venture is an essential step to utilize our experience in solar maintenance, transforming it into a prototype tool for the international market of wide use.

Finally, it paves the way for the further development of this robot, incorporating other functions that can reduce the operating costs of parks and optimize their performance. After all, our mission is to accelerate the energy transition with innovative solutions, pioneering a better future.

On June 15 every year, we celebrate Global Wind Day, which brings us closer to accelerating the energy transition.

At Principia, we are among the leaders of wind energy production with an installed capacity in Greece which reaches a total of 368.60 MW.

The pinnacle of production is the model wind cluster Kafireas in South Evia, one of the largest wind farms in the country with a total capacity of 167.9 MW. It includes 8 wind farms with 73 wind turbines and will be able to produce about 505GWh per year, reducing CO2 emissions to the atmosphere by 294.2 metric tons per year.

Global Wind Day was established by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), in an effort to raise awareness and inform society about the benefits for the environment and the sustainability of the planet from the use of Wind Energy and the need to ensure air quality.

Initiatives towards local communities

Starting with our wind farms throughout Greece, we are supporting to the local communities where we operate. Recently, with our decisive contribution and after 5 years of procedures, the Commission registered the Greek flower honey "Kissouri Honey" produced in South Evia, as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO), while in Northern Greece we have created our first circular economy project, constructing from old pillars a fully equipped space for the recreation of hikers and visitors, which, at the same time, acts as a useful observation point in the context of fire protection.

However, our social contribution continues, supporting the work of the Authorities, Bodies and Associations. Namely, in our wind farm Monastiri 2 in Rodopi we hosted a wind turbine evacuation exercise at a height of 65 meters, in which members of our company's Operation & Maintenance team, executives of the 4th Special Disaster Response Unit and the local police participated. In 2023,  on the occasion of Global Wind Day, we organized two special sports activities that combined physical exercise, mental well-being, information about wind energy and acquaintance with the natural environment near our wind farms, in South Evia and Evros. In 2021 2021, we co-organized the 43rd cycling tour "Sacrifice", whose route passed next to the wind farm Lithos in Kalavryta.

At the same time,  throughout the year, our wind farms throughout Greece are open to welcoming students who are informed and trained on the principles of sustainable development, circular economy, innovation and the utilization of Renewable Energy Sources.

Protecting biodiversity

In Heraklion, Crete, in parallel with the operation of our projects, we undertake initiatives for the protection of birds of prey passing through the area. Such an action is implemented in the wind farms  of Kouloukonas and Agios Kyrillos located at an altitude of more than 1000m. There, in collaboration with the Natural History Museum and the University of Crete we studied the flights of birds. Based on the results, we placed feeders at specific points in the surrounding mountains, on routes away from the wind farms of the area. Therefore, on days with thick clouds, the birds head to the feeders and continue their journey.

The global road to wind energy

According to statistics released by the World Wind Energy Association (WWEA), the power to produce electricity from wind farms installed around the world exceeds 1000 GW, while finally it is worth noting that the operation of a wind farm with a capacity of 10 MW can supply electricity to more than 7,000 households and save the consumption of about 7,000 tons of oil.

Also, with the aim of achieving a transition away from fossil fuels, the European Commission presented REPowerEU, whose main pillars are diversifying energy supply, saving energy and accelerating the energy transition. Renewables are at the forefront of the effort to achieve energy independence, as the plan proposes their massive scaling up and acceleration in energy production, industry, transport and buildings. REPowerEU sets the new European binding 2030 renewable energy target at 45%, while significantly increasing renewable energy targets in the transport and industrial sectors. In order to meet the REPowerEU targets, the projected installed wind power capacity by 2030 will need to reach 510 GW (compared to 189 GW in 2021). Thus, in an indirect way, wind energy can also be used to reduce the environmental footprint of the most energy-intensive sectors.

Wind and other renewable energy sources pave the way for a fully sustainable future, for growth that is more environmentally friendly and on a human scale. We drive sustainable progress in the industry by incorporating the most innovative solutions available, optimizing energy costs and focusing on reducing our carbon footprint to have a friendlier, more sustainable future.

As part of our sustainability actions and the creation of shared value with local communities, we present an innovative sustainability road trip that takes us all over Greece.

Ever since 2008, we have been making a decisive contribution to the sustainable development and prosperity of the regions where we operate. Over the years, our activities in more than 20 different geographical areas have addressed local needs through dozens of sustainable and resilient social solidarity projects.

Our people have created mutually beneficial relationships with local organizations and communities, from Achaia to Kozani and South Evia to Crete. And, as we celebrate 15 years of business activity in Greece,  we have created a special green road trip which presents some of these programs. This short film chronicles our substantial social contribution through sustainable initiatives.

First stop at the “Lithos” wind park in Kalavryta 

The trip started at the “Lithos” wind park in Kalavryta. The park is located at an altitude of 1600 meters. It was here, in 2021, that we co-organized the 43rd “Thysias” bike race, whose route passed by the wind park. In this way, the local community became more familiar with the project, as well as with the benefits for the area. Since then, we have continued to support the Hellenic Cycling Federation. Its President, Vassilis Diamantopoulos, says: “We collaborated because we have common goals: the reduction of air pollution and the improvement of the green environmental footprint. It was the largest ever turnout for this event with more than 400 people taking part. This was unprecedented for Greece, and we are delighted to be working with the company.”

The journey continues at the “Vamvakies” photovoltaic park in Kozani

The next stop on our trip was Kozani in Western Macedonia, home of the “Vamvakies” solar park. Here, in collaboration with Wise Greece, CluBE (the Cluster of Bioeconomy and Environment of Western Macedonia) and the Municipality of Kozani, we set up the award-winning “Vamvakies, a green social project.” This is an educational program which aims to promote agri-food entrepreneurship. Through this project, 250 young people were given training, while a group of women are already active in an agrivoltaic project at the park. They are planting aromatic herbs in order to supply Europe’s first agricultural products from a photovoltaic park. Furthermore, we are actively supporting the local community through continuous initiatives in the village of Polymylos. Spyros Avramidis, the President of the Polymylos Community, says: “We were lucky to have such a company support us. During the Covid-19 pandemic, it offered technology equipment to primary schoolchildren to enable them to attend their classes remotely and, in consultation with the village doctor, it donated equipment to the Local Health Centre, thereby assisting locals who cannot be taken to a hospital.” 

Next stop: the wind farms in Heraklion, Crete

Our trip continued in Heraklion in Crete. Here, for several years now we have, alongside the operation of our projects, been undertaking initiatives for the local community and the protection of migrant birds of prey. One initiative is being implemented at the Kouloukonas and Agios Kyrillos wind parks, which are located at an altitude of more than 1000 meters: in collaboration with the Natural History Museum and the University of Crete, bird flights are being studied. Based on those studies, bird feeders were placed at specific points in the surrounding mountains, on routes far from the wind parks. The birds can thus head for the feeders on cloudy days to get food and continue their journey. Michalis Probonas, Head of the Ecology Laboratory of the University of Crete, says that “Our collaboration started many years ago through bird monitoring programs related to its power plants in Crete. We have been operating and monitoring bird feeders in Crete since 2019. During this time, some 12 tons of food have been placed in the feeders, in order to support the bird populations.”

Our final destination: Kafireas in South Evia

Our road trip concluded in South Evia, specifically, Karystos. This is home to  Kafireas, the largest cluster of wind parks in Greece.  Since the beginning of the park’s construction, we have worked alongside the local community, by supporting associations in the area. Initiatives include the reforestation of the historical forest of Kastanologgos. Its size has decreased by 40% and it could be lost entirely in a few years. With total funding of €2m, we aim to reverse its decline by taking action in 240 acres of existing forest and planting new trees on the surrounding 400 acres. The project will therefore bring new life to 640 acres, an area roughly equivalent to 90 soccer pitches. At the same time, we support “Anemos” Cycling Club and the “Heri-Heri” Association for the Protection of People with Disabilities. The President of the “Anemos” Cycling Club, Gerasimos Lykoudis, says: “Recently we held an event exclusively for young children, featuring all the games we remember from our childhood.” George Pantelis, the Secretary of the “Heri-Heri” Association, added  that “the van donated by the company serves all the Association’s needs, such as the transportation of People with Disabilities, outdoor activities and any other transportation requirements.”

In order to promote the principles of solidarity, generosity and social contribution, we enable a sustainable development model that fosters relationships of trust with the residents of the areas where we operate while supporting the transition to clean forms of energy. Our Creating Shared Value - CSV initiatives are fully aligned with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, with these actions falling under SDG 1 - No Poverty, SDG 2 - Zero Hunger, SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being, SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities, SDG 15 - Life on Land and SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals.

We developed the innovative program Vamvakies Social Green Project that empowered enterpreneurship and created value for the residents of Kozani and the wider region.

The project

The Vamvakies Social Green Project was developed by Principia, in collaboration with Wise Greece and CluBE under the auspices of the Municipality of Kozani, exclusively for the Prefecture of Kozani and the wider region, with the aim of supporting people who are interested in empowerment, entrepreneurship and careers in the food industry. 

The program was divided into 2 sub-projects:  the empowerment of a small group of women farming in the Vamvakies PV plant area and the provision of free educational seminars on various topics for all the residents of Kozani.

An innovative program

The idea was put into practice at the solar plant near Polymylos Kozani, where a small group of women cultivated herbs, both in the open spaces and under the panels.

At the same time, the women were supported by a team of advisors and trainers, with the aim of becoming micro-entrepreneurs, marketing these original products and earning a substantial income.

From the materials of the crops in Vamvakies, we created the MYROLAND series of products, which consists of the following: spices for chicken, spices for pork, a Mediterranean mixture of herbs, as well as herbal drinks with the flavor of melomakarono, tsoureki, banoffee and paliouri.

This is the first time in Europe that a series of products from the land of a solar park has been launched on the market.

The educational program

Educational programs were organized and made available to all Kozani residents in order to promote and enhance entrepreneurship. The seminars took place online once a month and were supported by a large team of experienced trainers who flank the participants in every stage of their business career.

The participants were able to develop their knowledge of the nutrition sector and connect with mentors who could help them in every professional step. They also received training in very important entrepreneurship issues such as the preparation of a business plan, the production and promotion of products, effective communication, developing a network of customers and partners, digital marketing and much more.

The Vamvakies Social Green Project was honored for its Innovation and Social Impact with the Bravo Sustainability Award in the Society and Partnerships category and with the Gold Hellenic Responsible Business Award in the Decent Work & Economic Growth category.

Our Creating Shared Value (CSV) initiatives are fully in line with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Vamvakies Social Green Project is aligned with Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 5 (Gender Equality) and Goal 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth).

With the ability to manage the installed capacity from our plants, our Control Room is one of the largest and most modern of its kind. We proudly present our innovative Control & Monitoring Room, which is a first in the Greek renewables sector.

Our Control & Monitoring Room is located in Athens and is staffed by trained professionals, including specialized engineers and data analysts. Here the control of all critical parameters for the operation of our RES plants in Greece is carried out in real time, as is detection and malfunction repair coordination. The Room literally operates “24/7” (365 days a year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week), thereby ensuring the smooth operation of the plants and, by extension, the company.

The Control & Monitoring Room’s team can monitor and remotely manage the plants. This means that a large percentage of malfunctions can be solved immediately, with the optimal use of technology. These capabilities are an integral part of the operation of the projects. This is at a time when the modern energy market has introduced new requirements in the coordination between energy production and energy management.

Big Data

At the same time, the system receives more than 300,000 signals. These can refer to: power output, temperatures, sunshine percentage, gusts of wind, etc. All this information is stored in a central database. The annual amount of data is so large that, were it a book, it would be 63 million pages long! The analysis team at our Control Room has big data analytics systems at its disposal and develops algorithms that are constantly running to support the maintenance team. In this way, malfunctions are prevented, and production is optimized.

The journey of our continuous innovation and digital solutions continues. Over the years we have developed infrastructure and equipment, together with the specialization and the know-how of our people. And now we can offer greater automation through the Control & Monitoring Room.  As a global leader in the production of green and sustainable energy from renewable sources, we are already laying the groundwork for the future of energy.

This year, more than 600 children and young people participated in our innovative educational program "Energy on the Go", approved by the Ministry of Education.

Our innovative educational program “Energy on the Go” has been underway since 2014 and aims to raise young people’s awareness of sustainable development and the circular economy. It also highlights the importance of renewable energy sources (RES) for both the present and the future of our planet. The program, approved by the Ministry of Education for the past eight years, introduces students to the world of the green transition and sustainable practices. Thus, it enables them to understand complex concepts, but also to become environmentally aware citizens.

Another successful year for the program

During the 2022-2023 academic year, our team of volunteers made visits to public and private schools in Athens to carry out the program. The educational activities covered topics such as sustainability, the circular economy, energy efficiency and differences between renewable and conventional energy sources.

About 600 students from Athens, Thessaloniki and Komotini had the opportunity to participate and get to know the world of green energy and the circular economy in a fun way, but also to become more informed about environmental issues. Since 2014, more than 3,000 young people have participated in the program.

Educational initiatives throughout Greece

Schools from Thessaloniki and Komotini chose to visit our wind farm, “Monastiri II” in Thrace. With the help of our engineers, students had the opportunity to see up close the operation of the wind turbine but also to learn how air is "converted" into energy.

On the occasion of World Wind Day on June 15th, we organized activities in collaboration with the Hellenic Wind Energy Association (HWEA), near our plants in Karystos and Alexandroupolis. The children and young people who participated had the opportunity to learn about the value of renewable energy sources (RES) in their daily lives, through the “Energy on the Go” program and printed material.

Konstantinos Efremidis, Head of Communications, said: “The innovative Energy on the Go educational program gives us the opportunity to explain to the younger generation the value of using energy from renewable sources, the importance of the circular economy in our daily lives and the protection of biodiversity. What makes Energy on the Go stand out is its unique approach to environmental education, combining hands-on learning and knowledge with innovative teaching methods. In this way, we pave the way for a greener future for the next generations.”

Sustainable development in focus

Sustainability is the driving force behind our business model and growth. We’ve designed a strategy that continuously implements sustainable actions and practices to create shared value with the communities where we operate, while remaining committed to our business goals.

Energy on the Go is part of these practices, bringing added value to the school community.  Through the program, we add to the education of students, providing them with up-to-date knowledge. With this initiative, we aim to create a greener planet for future generations and pave the way to the green transition.

Every day, we demonstrate our commitment to a sustainability model based on initiatives and targeted actions with a significant impact on people's daily lives and especially on the future of young people. Our initiatives are fully aligned with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals; this program is part of SDG 4: Quality Education.

Volunteering, according to recent research, has a decisive and particularly important impact on well-being in the workplace, while also contributing to society as a whole.

Our "Be the Hero" program highlights the importance of volunteering, as well as its many benefits for our mental health and our lives as a whole.

Volunteering activities of substance

On September 29 2022, as part of both the International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste and our new "Be the Hero" program, we organized a special activity. Our volunteer team, in collaboration with the NGO Love Dinner, prepared and distributed 1,000 portions of food to the homeless and needy in the center of Athens.

In November of the same year we organized a voluntary clean-up activity in Parnitha, in collaboration with the "Save Your Hood" movement. On that occasion we collected over 4,000 litres of waste and rubble covering an area of about 3,000 square meters.

And, as part of our commitment to social contribution, during the Christmas holiday season we helped our most vulnerable fellow citizens in the areas where we operate. More specifically, we collected almost a ton of food and delivered it to institutions and organizations in Athens, Alexandroupolis, Kozani, Evia and Patras.

Our activities continued in 2023 because, for all of us, volunteering is a way of life. We visited the "Chatzipaterio" Children's Rehabilitation & Support Centre (K.A.S.P.). There, we joined the children in creating special busy boards, making Easter candles and baking pastries, sharing love and offering support.

Protecting the environment is one of the key pillars of our strategy. True to our commitment to developing sustainable practices, we carried out another clean-up initiative in the area that surrounds the Vravrona wetland, one of the most important in Attica, part of the Natura 2000 network. Our team of volunteers, along with their kids, started cleaning up the area around the wetland, and by collecting a large amount of waste and recyclables, such as plastic bottles and aluminum cans, we significantly contributed to the reshaping of the natural environment.

Our efforts are ongoing and diverse, which is why our latest volunteering activity reinforced the most important value of all: saving lives. We organized a blood donation drive in our offices, which was met with enthusiastic participation by our people.

Employees as Heroes

Through these actions, we strive to become "heroes" in everyday life, enhancing social solidarity through initiatives that contribute to the common good. We show in practice, at every opportunity, our solidarity, support and spirit of giving to those in need. This is also evident in the informal reward system that has been set up internally. Through this, we all have our own personalized board on which we place reward stickers every time we take part in a volunteering activity. Those who collect the most stickers during the year will be the heroes of the city!

We demonstrate every day our commitment to a sustainability model based on initiatives and targeted actions with a significant impact on people's lives. Our Creating Shared Value - CSV initiatives are fully aligned with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, with our voluntary program being part of SDG 2 - Zero Hunger, SDG 4 - Quality Education, SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities, SDG 15 - Life on Land and SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals.