Introduction

Renewable Energy Sources are according to the Greek law the “non fossil Renewable Energy Sources (RES), that is wind, solar, geothermal, wave, tidal, hydro power, gas from landfills and from sewage treatment and biogas”.

 In other words, every type of energy that can be derived from a practically inexhaustible, renewable, environmentally friendly source with zero contaminating exhaust fumes during the plant operation.

 There is often used the term “Sustainable Energy Systems”, a term indicating its significance to sustainability. The available renewable technology nowadays is cutting-edge and high efficiency technology.

 As global energy consumption is constantly growing, the means for electric power production are evolving and being improved in an attempt to disengage ourselves from fossil fuels, to protect the environment and to improve the quality of our lives.

 RES constitute a basic factor for the energy future. They need to be given special attention in order to be developed properly and to cover a considerable percentage the continuously increasing energy demand and consumption.

 As clean forms of energy during their operation, it is necessary to dynamically contribute to the energy needs of society by decreasing the percentage of fossil fuel contaminating exhausts.

 The imperative need for the development of RES is apparent from their radical growth during the last decade, as it is shown in the following graph.

(source: Wind in power – 2011 European statistics, EWEA)

Lately, RES development in Greece has shown remarkable progress; this is reflected in the installed power capacity of renewable plants below. However, taking into account the great potential of Greece, it can be said that there is still a lot of ground for further development.

(source: Ministry of  Environment Energy & Climate Change)