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.
