With the rapid advancement of technology and the impending rise in population demands, clean energy appears to be the ticket to achieving sustainability across the globe. Data from the International Energy Agency indicates that the share of clean energy in global electricity production is on an upward trend. Notably, countries such as Germany, China, and India have led this trend, investing in modern technologies and programs to enhance their energy capacity.

To elaborate, the term “clean or green energy” refers to all forms of energy that are produced with minimal or no negative environmental impact, meaning they have a negligible environmental footprint. The earliest forms of green energy emerged in the late 19th century and gained significant traction and widespread utilization during the 20th century. These include wind, hydroelectric, and solar energy. In modern times, geothermal energy, biomass, and the innovative future exploitation of hydrogen also hold a substantial share.

Although developing new technologies and infrastructure, as well as adopting new policies and regulations, may be required to promote clean energy, its integration into our daily lives offers significant advantages over conventional energy production methods. More specifically, the use of green energy as an efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional energy sources can help reduce polluting emissions and greenhouse gases, thus aiding in the fight against air pollution and, by extension, climate change. Additionally, it fosters technological innovation in the energy sector, reduces dependence on imported fossil fuels, and promotes long-term resource savings, enabling energy autonomy for each nation while boosting the local economy and building sustainable communities.

Closely linked to clean energy is the concept of the energy mix, which refers to the combination of different energy sources (renewable and non-renewable) used to meet the energy needs of each country, such as electricity generation, heating, and industrial production. Regarding Greece, it is worth noting that in 2023, clean electricity production reached a historic high, with 57% of the energy mix coming exclusively from renewable energy sources, exceeding 25 TWh. This marks a significant increase compared to 2022, when the corresponding figure was 50.12%. Simultaneously, the share of lignite in the domestic energy mix shrank further, recording a historic low of 10.1%, compared to over 54% a decade ago. These statistics demonstrate the enthusiastic progress of the country’s lignite phase-out program and the continued rising demand and utilization of environmentally friendly energy forms.

Furthermore, it is worth highlighting that by 2030, within the framework of achieving the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), the goal is to increase generated electrical capacity from the current 18 GW to 29 GW, including the planned installation of geothermal power stations with a total capacity of 0.1 GW.

Clarifying further, expectations from pilot projects implemented through previous programs suggest that geothermal energy could become a significant factor in energy self-sufficiency, future sustainability, and Greece’s economic development. Currently, modern geothermal utilization in Greece is limited to 43 MWth of low-enthalpy geothermal energy used for greenhouse heating and other agricultural applications, 43 MWth for thermal spa operations, and 191 MWth for geothermal heat pumps. However, these sectors are expected to see notable growth in the coming years. Encouragingly, new district heating systems are under development, and the first geothermal power generation stations exploiting high-enthalpy resources are being explored.

More specifically, in 2008, research on the geothermal field in Stypsi, Lesvos, was completed, aiming at the future construction of an 8 MW geothermal power plant to cover approximately 25% of the island’s energy needs. Additionally, in the fall of 2023, a tender was announced for the prospective utilization of geothermal potential in Northern Greece (Strymonas, Nestos, and Evros river basins and Akropotamos, Kavala), which meet the conditions for electricity generation. Finally, it should be noted that the management and exploitation rights of the geothermal field Lithotopos–Irakleia in the Serres regional unit have been leased, with the total installed thermal capacity of existing geothermal production wells estimated at 4.47 MWth, equivalent to saving 3,300 tons of oil annually.