Astypalea: The Benefits of Becoming a “Green Island”

Astypalea is the focus of a new conference.

At the 4th Electromobility Conference organized by the Hellenic Association for Energy Economics, it was emphasized that Astypalea’s transformation into a green island—through the implementation of pioneering solutions in electromobility and the development of Renewable Energy Sources (RES)—can become a magnet for tourism, semi-permanent and permanent residence, and serve as a model for other islands in Greece and abroad.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy and Openness, Kostas Fragogiannis, announced additional government initiatives in new sectors under the green economy framework. Referring to the Astypalea project, he stressed that the aim is for the island to rely on renewable energy sources and move away from oil, with residents using public transport via electric buses, electric vehicles, and charging stations. “The future,” he stated, “is not about owning 2–3 cars, but about car sharing and ride sharing, paying based on usage time.”

Interest among the residents in electromobility is very high, according to the Mayor of Astypalea, Nikolaos Komineas, who also requested priority installation of a 5G network on the island to support people who wish to live permanently in a humane environment without lacking the benefits of modern technology.

From Volkswagen’s side, Nikos Prezas, Director of Sales & Marketing, stated that the company will provide electric vehicles below cost to residents so that, combined with government incentives, people will be encouraged to adopt them.

Kyriakos Kofinas, General Director of Electromobility at PPC (Public Power Corporation), noted that in islands like Astypalea, the energy system faces challenges such as high energy costs and high seasonal demand due to tourism. These issues can be addressed through a combination of renewables, energy storage, and demand management.

Source: skai.gr