• Energy Research
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From the 1st of November 2020, the Greek Power Market is re-organized and operates according to the EU Target Model framework. The previous model of the mandatory pool is succeeded by the design and operation of four successive markets. These are the Derivatives Market (DM), which is a financial market and the three spot markets which are the Day-Ahead Market (DAM), the Intra-Day Market (IDM) and the Balancing Market (BM). The present Thesis is an attempt to efficiently organize and interpret the Spot Markets’ data and present a holistic overview of the market operation and the dynamics under the transitional period of the first three months under the EU Target Model implementation in the Greek Power Market. The analysis of the present study is performed based on real market data, as published from the Hellenic Transmission System Operator (HTSO), which is the ADMIE/IPTO, the Greek Nominated Energy Market Operator (NEMO), which is the Hellenic Energy Exchange (HEnEX) and the ENTSO-e Transparency Platform. The EU Target Model framework is implemented towards the harmonization of market rules and markets operation, across the European Member States, with the provision of the functioning of a single European-wide energy market, the so-called Internal Energy Market (IEM), where one of the main objectives of the IEM is the increase of sustainability, considering high penetration of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) in a European-wide scale.

The seaborne trade accounts for approximately 90 per cent of the global trade and economy, proving the power of this industry. The maritime transport of goods and raw materials remains the most cost-effective and energy-efficient means of transporting of large volume of cargo in comparison to road and rail. Nevertheless, the need for the immediate international actions on the climate crisis and global warming entails the reduction of emissions resulting from all sectors. The Kyoto Protocol indicated in its Article 2.2 the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as the global regulator for the reduction of emissions from international shipping. In line with that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has developed a regulatory framework addressing to the control of the emissions of the air pollutants and to the improvement of ship energy efficiency, by limiting the emissions of the greenhouse gases. This thesis includes the main regulatory measures adopted for the reduction of the emissions of the Sulphur Oxides (SOx), Particulate Matter (PM), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), and of the greenhouse gases (GHG), including Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4) and Nitrous Oxide (N2O), expressed in CO2e and concludes to the significance of the efforts of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) into minimizing the impact of the international shipping to the climate change.

Demand Side Response (DSR) concept, although not a contemporary idea in the energy policy field, has sprung during the recent years. European Union’s Energy and Climate policy framework has adopted various forms of the concept at all levels of consumption, from large industrial customers up to small households. Having as a policy spearhead the energy efficiency, DSR has been integrated to and promoted through various legislative initiatives within the EU, such as the Energy Union, various energy related directives (Electricity, Energy Efficiency, State Aid), the Network Codes and the Clean Energy Package. DSR programs vary to a large extend and they can be adjusted to many different electricity markets schemes, exhibiting a rather complex classification. In Europe, numerous DSR programs have been established in many countries. In Greece in particular, although the energy market cannot be characterized as a mature one, there is a specific scheme that engages large industrial consumers (HV and MV) to the DSR concept. This is the so called Interruptible Load Service Auction (ILSA) scheme, which runs during the last 4 years under the auspices and management of the Greek TSO. The program is based on load curtailment on-demand from the Greek TSO side towards the consumers. The consumers are being remunerated for their availability to curtail specific loads that have been contracted through an auction procedure that takes place several times throughout a year. In this thesis, the ILSA scheme is analyzed in detailed, both as far as its legal and operational framework is concerned, as well as far as the types of consumers that participate to it. Following the abovementioned analysis, the participation of the Hellenic Petroleum Aspropyrgos Industrial Complex (HELPE-AIC) is assessed as a case study, while at the section of the concluding remarks, some noticeable suggestions for the further penetration of the scheme to the Greek energy market are presented, as well as for HELPE-AIC’s further engagement to the scheme.

Η «Ατζέντα του Οργανισμού των Ηνωμένων Εθνών (ΟΗΕ) για τη Βιώσιμη Ανάπτυξη 2030» καλεί τις επιχειρήσεις να εφαρμόσουν πρωτοβουλίες, τη δημιουργικότητα τους και καινοτομίες για την αντιμετώπιση των προκλήσεων της βιώσιμης ανάπτυξης. Υπό αυτή την έννοια, η παρούσα διατριβή προτείνει ένα μοντέλο βιωσιμότητας για επιχειρηματική χρήση. Το μοντέλο θα διευκολύνει τις επιχειρήσεις στην επιλογή των κατάλληλων δεικτών Βιώσιμης Ανάπτυξης (SDG indicators), όπως και θα τονίσει πιθανά «κενά» βιωσιμότητας που ενδεχομένως υφίστανται. Για την ανάπτυξη του μοντέλου βιωσιμότητας, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν βασικές οικονομικές αρχές (όπως για παράδειγμα η θεωρία ελαχιστοποίησης του κόστους και η θεωρία κινδύνου), μια έρευνα στον τομέα της βιώσιμης ανάπτυξης καθώς και μια στατιστική μελέτη βασισμένη σε δεδομένα της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης. Το αποτέλεσμα ήταν να διαμορφωθεί ένα ποσοτικό μοντέλο για την αξιολόγηση της βιώσιμης ανάπτυξης των οργανισμών, και μέσω αυτού να διευκολύνεται η λήψη των κατάλληλων αποφάσεων για τη διαμόρφωση μια ορθής πολιτικής. Το μοντέλο δοκιμάστηκε σε πραγματικές συνθήκες, υπό τη μορφή μελέτης περίπτωσης (case study), που πραγματοποιήθηκε στην Ελληνική Επιτροπή Ατομικής Ενέργειας.

It is a fact over the past years, the considerable increase of tourism activities has become a big issue of growing concern. While the majority of tourists in Antarctica travel on ships that carry large numbers of passengers, an increased number of travelers decide to visit Antarctica as individual tourists, in smaller groups. This non-stop growing demand for activity-based tourism and new activities such as kayaking, snowboarding, climbing, or scuba diving are starting to attract the attention of more and more travelers. This study analyzes the legal framework in places such as the Antarctic System (ATS) that was signed by several States and establishes this region as an international area dedicated to research and science. Tourism in Antarctica is a well-established and profitable industry, however, this increased activity in Antarctica could endanger the fragile environment in the case of a catastrophic maritime accident. This research examines the regulatory framework relating to the environmental protection of Antarctica by evaluating past accidents and at the same time factorizing the increasing presence of cruise ships in this pristine polar area. In order to succeed this, it is crucial to understand how this activity is regulated, what are the factors that jeopardize the environment, which are the instruments created by IMO and private parties to deal with this issue, and finally, assess if these regulations are enough to ensure safe operations. A thorough literature review regarding the extended regulatory framework (IAATO, Antarctic Treaty) was conducted. In addition, examining the level of conformity of the operators and the effectiveness of the inspection realized by member States of the ATS was included. The results indicate that the regulations have a positive impact on the operation ensuring best practices in order to protect the environment, although, certain incidents demonstrate the need to enhance safe operations in the continent. The issue of manning levels is clearly standing out as an issue of further investigation in order to safely and effectively conduct high manning levels operation in this hostile environment, with very adverse weather conditions.

The current global energy crisis demonstrates that energy is a fundamental aspect of international relations and politics, as well as the driving force behind social progress. This thesis aimed to highlight the relationship between geothermal energy and geopolitics, which has received little academic attention. In the literature review, the technical characteristics, technologies, and applications of geothermal energy, along with its competitive technological and economic advantages are elucidated. Subsequently, the geopolitical value that geothermal energy possesses is presented and discussed, with a special focus on the concept of geopolitics, its prominent theoreticians, and the elements that synthesize the contemporary geopolitical landscape. Highlights on the geopolitical significance of geothermal energy were compiled and presented, sourced from leading international institutions and research studies. This thesis contributed to the state of the art by demonstrating how this renewable energy source, which is expected to become an essential component of the global green energy future, is capable of mitigating climate change, altering the dependance relations between countries, enhancing energy security, and thus influencing global politics, despite its current marginal role.

The aim of the present master’s thesis is to represent the evolution of energy markets in the European Union from a fragmented monopolistic structure to a unified competitive form and the way in which a single energy market in the Union is gradually being established, through the adoption of common rules and the development of interconnections. This internal energy market which is named Target Model and constitutes one of the major intentions of the European Union, is being examined from a legal perspective in the following chapters. Specifically, the first chapter of the thesis attempts to represent an overview of the legislative framework that has been adopted in succession by European Commission towards the liberalization and unification of the energy market, namely the four energy legislative packages that have determined the structure and the operation of the European electricity market. In the second chapter we examine the basic forms of power markets depending on their degree of competition, as well as we examine the transformation of the energy markets to mandatory pool systems or power exchange models. The third chapter of the thesis consists of an analytical overview of the Target model operation, which is mainly based on the power exchange model, as well as the coupling of national markets. Chapter four refers to the establishment of the network codes, which have been enacted in order to facilitate and secure the well-functioning of the single market through common rules on market integration, operation and interconnection procedures. In chapter five, a more specific reference to the electricity system of Greece is made, while chapter six consists of a general conclusion over the progress that has been made so far in the energy field regarding the unification of the market, as well as over the obstacles that have to be overcome by European Union in order to finally realize the goal of a fully integrated electricity market.

Europe’s building stock is entering a transition phase, becoming an active player in the energy system, controlling, producing, storing, and consuming energy. The explosion of smart technologies enabling a more efficient use of energy in buildings will inevitably redesign the built environment and the linked energy flows. This study attempts to offer a presentation of the legislative framework and targets of EU on energy efficiency and how this policy and long-term strategy affects the national plan of Greece for energy efficiency in building sector. Cases of energy upgrading of residential and office buildings in Greece will be presented and the amount of investment will be assessed in relation to the percentage of energy upgrade. The article concludes framing the five pillars of a smart built environment for EU.

Over the years, islands have become overly dependent and vulnerable to traditional energy lines. Great importance has to be laid down to their energy resources to help them achieve sustainability and energy independence, constituting them self-sufficient. Thus, islands become part of the European energy transition and the zero-emissions EU initiative until 2050. As a consequence of the environmentally friendly directives of the EU, the traditional centralized energy production facilities are gradually being replaced with distributed, heterogeneous, multidirectional, and smart energy systems. Often serve as ‘‘test subjects’’ for new technologies and their performance. As a key figure, the European Commission, encourages research and innovation in the energy field. States and industrial actors have identified islands as key energy transition sites because their distinctive isolation characterizes them compared to main-lands. Therefore, energy routes are to be made to facilitate their needs. Also, these islands can easily, with the available technology, abstain from the traditional production of energy from fossil fuel to emission-free renewable energy sources that could include hybrid models of energy production. The energy transitions should actively work to anchor initiatives solving additionally local concerns and localized issues. Many Islands of the EU, despite having access to renewable sources of energy, still depend on expensive fossil fuel imports for their energy supply. The European Commission has launched the ‘‘Clean Energy for EU Islands Initiative’’ as part of the ‘‘Clean Energy for all Europeans’’ package. One of the primary instruments of this initiative is the European Islands Facility (NESOI), which aims to create through innovation and subsidies clean energy projects across the EU islands. Plentiful projects are already underway in the EU and Greece, including the Astypalea project of Volkswagen, the Tilos project, the ESBØ project in Norway and Sweden, and older projects such as the Samsø ...