Antia A Wind Farm in NATURA 2000 Protected Area

The island of Euboea (Evia or Ellopia), is the second largest island of the Greek Archipelago after Crete. Euboea is separated from the mainland of Greece by a long and narrow arm of the Aegean Sea named Euboic Gulf that its current flow changes direction every six hours due to the phenomenon of tide. This hippocampus shaped island, spans almost parallel to the mainland, at a length of 150 km from northwest towards southeast and is 50 km at its widest area while it narrows to as little as 6 km. In the south part of the island which is almost entirely mountainous lies the community of Kafireas in the province of Karistos. Kafireas expands on an area of 77.770.000 m² ² and it is consisted of twelve sparsely populated villages inhabited by approximately 1400 occupants on the total.

Map of the Investigated area in South Euboea (Evia).

Regional Topology and Eco-Systems

Steep terrain is the main characteristic of the region topography where rocky areas and ravines, ridges and slopes in a variety of elevations synthesize a highly irregular anaglyphe. The average annual temperature varies between 8 °C in winter time and 20 °C in the summer.

The ecological value and importance of the area is indisputable mainly because of the threatened and endangered species that appear in this fully factional ecosystem. Kafireas Cape, as strategically placed in the center of the Aegean Archipelago, encourages the stopover and feeding of migratory birds that replenish their energy reserves. The area provides an excellent shelter from predators because of the rich in variety and type habitat availability. Additionally, for some small nesting indigenous species, the surrounding area of Ochi Mountain is the primarily breeding site. A great mixture of seabirds, waterfowls, small passerines, waders, raptors, rich and simultaneously European rare vegetation varieties and amphibian populations, red foxes, ground squirrel species and a significant herpetofauna community compose a remarkable biological mosaic. In general, the flora and fauna of Kafireas are extremely rich and this is the main reason why the area is included in the preserved zones of Corine and Natura 2000 networks.

Wind Energy Potential

The synergistic relationship between the air masses above the Aegean Sea towards the mainland of South Euboea and the topographic characteristics of the area, combined to the slope morphology of the terrain, plays an important role on the exceptional wind potential of this site. Furthermore, the dynamic behavior of the atmosphere, theoretically dichotomizes the geographic position of the area where favorable local wind conditions are produced due to the seasonal barometric variations. When the parameters of this complex meteorological system are combined to the air humidity and temperature, rapid changes in the direction and velocity of the wind occur and strong winds dominate the wide area of South Euboea. The main direction of the prevailing winds in the south part of the island, in Kafireas community is North-North East and the average wind speed (at hub height) is greater than 10 m/s according to verified measurements.

Wind Energy Potential Map.
Source: YPEKA Energy Maps.

Wind Energy Opposition

Several wind plant sites with a total capacity of 250 MW have already been developed in South Euboea within the bounds of a long-term private investment strategy plan that was set off in the early 2000. The optimistic scenario of the Energy Strategy calls for the construction of several wind energy plants with a total capacity of 1800-2000 MW by the end of 2020. There are, however, many concerns about these "philodox" plans. The southern edge of the island of Euboea is regarded as a prime wind energy plants installation location but locals have opposed what they regard as the degradation of the ecosystem. Local wind power opposition is gaining momentum.

“We are not opposed to renewable energy projects. We are not opposed to sustainable development, either... ” said a local resident from the village of Amygdalia and I definitely agree on this. “Wind Energy investors are coming in our villages with no plans and with no authority to enter our private properties. They just want to install new wind turbines but we don't have any information about their potential consequences to the environment or the adverse effects on the landscape. If this goes ahead, our villages will be surrounded by massive wind machines. This area is already over-developed. Lots of people support the idea of renewable energy production, especially this period of time, where the economic crisis is spreading, but there are too many in this small area.”

The Problematic Framework

There are several reasons why the required Strategic Plans for siting the new wind turbines to this environmental fragile area are not yet developed or implemented. Firstly, the Public Policy and legislation regarding wind energy development plans and layout design, lack long term goals and seem to conflict with each other to some extent. Secondly, given the lack of Spatial frameworks and unwillingness of the national authorities to reconcile with the local societies and investors, dichotomizes people into We and They. The power to enact laws implementing a treaty is meaningless in the absence of such regulations and policies.

Multiple Wind Energy Plants Siting and Layout Design

Wind turbines themselves and their ancillary infrastructure are generally large structures with the potential to have significant landscape and visual impacts. The rapid development of numerous large scale wind farms has already had amajor impact on many of South Euboea landscapes and sceneries. It is therefore critically important that special care should be taken during the wind farm siting and layout design of the potential wind energy plants to preserve the landscape values and visual amenity. If the future windfarms in this area, are sited and designed under an integrated strategic framework for the long-term sustainable management and biodiversity conservation, the productive capacity of our landscape will be optimized without jeopardizing the ecosystem. Conversely, if they are poorly designed and installed, the scope for further renewable energy development in the future will be consequently reduced.