Clipping of news on recent developments on the issue of water resources management in Greece
END OF AUGUST 2020
The “Green Fund” announced a specific invitation for funding proposals addressed to the lignite mining areas in Western Macedonia. The invitation is part of the funding for “Greening actions” within the program for shifting out from the use of lignite as an energy source for Greece.
More specifically the invitation aims to fund the elaboration of the required studies, planning procedures and permits for an integrated pilot system for a circular management of waste water at those areas. Beneficiaries of the Program is the Region of West Macedonia and all the Municipalities of the Peripheral Units of “Kozani” & “Florina”. Total Available Budget for the invitation is 1 million euros and minimal accepted budget for any proposal is 100.000 euros.
Its goal is to promote an integrated model of cyclical management of urban wastewater in cities and settlements of the Regional Units of Kozani and Florina in the Region of Western Macedonia.
Site: www.prasinotameio.gr
ATHENS, 9TH SEPTEMBER 2020
Approval of the MASTER PLAN on Fair Development Transition of the Lignite mining areas by the Government Committee. The plan serves the need to a rapid independence from lignite as an energy source for the country. This Master Plan for this shift from the specific energy source, foresees 16 major infrastructure investments on various sectors. The total available funds for the implementation of this master plan could exceed the sum of 5 billion euros.
Among others the Master Plan foresees the following investments:
- No 7 Development of a Smart Hydroponic Plant at Western Macedonia
- No 8 Development of a Smart Hydroponic Plant at Megalopolis
Site: http://www.ypeka.gr/Portals/0/Files/ypourgeio/Grafeio%20Typou/20200911_SDAM_MasterPlan.pdf
HYDROUSA WALK HYDROS, TINOS
HYDROUSA team meets on Tinos island for an introductory Open walk focusing on HYDRO 5! “Drop the first tropical seed”.
HYDROUSA international partners gather up on the island of Tinos for the competition & installment of the technical works of the pilot application of HYDRO 5 in the area of “Agios Fokas” developed in collaboration with the Municipality of Tinos.
HYDRO 5 consists of two desalination technologies: i) a Mangrove Still system that harnesses solar energy for the desalination of sea water to irrigate a production greenhouse for tropical crops & ii) a saltwater evaporation greenhouse, with halophytes and mangroves, installed in the same "tropical production" greenhouse, the Greenhouse system simulates climate conditions for the production of tropical fruits, thus contributing to the diversification of local production.
In the context of the work's completion we invite residents, local stakeholders, educators, mindful visitors & schoolkids to a circular stroll focusing on the application of HYDRO 5, the technical processes & the impact of the project for the island's future.
On 10th of September 2 open strolls (tours) will be delivered by representatives of the technical partners of the programme focusing on the processes & the impact of the innovative work for the sustainable future of the island.
More specifically
- Welcoming - Intro: Meeting objectives and setting the frame
Dimitris Kokkinakis [Impact Hub Athens] & Evgenia Tsianou [Alchemia Nova]
- Presentation of the two diverse desalination systems l
Alessandro Zecca , [Planet] & Evgenia Tsianou [Alchemia Nova]
- Presentation of the Greenhouse unit and tropical plants
Heinz Gattringer, [Alchemia Nova]
- “Dropping the first seeds” & Discussion
Site: https://www.eventbrite.de/e/hydro-5-circular-walk-tickets-119115121535#
11TH SEPTEMBER 2020
An international online competition was completed on September 11th, 2020. The competition was organised within the actions of an INTERREG Greece- Cyprus project titled: “SmartWater 2020".
The competition was titled: «Battle of the Leakage Detection and Isolation Methods». The competition ended on September 3, 2020, where the results were announced.
The competition concerned the development, testing and comparison of innovative methods for the timely detection of leaks in water distribution networks, as well as the exact location of the leak. The competition was attended by 18 teams with a total of 100 people from around the world.
The teams were given a new research model of a water network designed by “KOIOS” as a "Virtual City", called: L-TOWN, and data extracted from a realistic simulation of the operation of the water distribution network for 2 years. The research teams, made up of universities, research centers and companies, were able to study the data using a variety of techniques from statistics to artificial intelligence, and to identify where and when the L-TOWN leaks occurred. With each correct detection, the teams received a "fee" in euros, while there was a "fine" for each incorrect detection.
The winners
The winning teams were: Tongji from Tongji University in China and the consortium consisted of Under Pressure from the Delft Technical University in the Netherlands, 3S Consult in Germany, and the INRAE Research Center in France.
Site: https://www.smartwater2020.eu/?p=850
ATHENS, 20TH SEPTEMBER 2020
Ministry of Environment & Energy
Seven (7) green actions to be financed by the Recovery Fund
The Ministry of Environment & Energy has submitted its proposals to the Government for direct grants from the Recovery Fund. The proposals are framed out into the following 7 thematic axis:
- Wave of Renovations
- Electrical Interconnections and Renewable Energy Sources
- Electromobility
- Actions for Nature Protection
- Spatial planning in combination with Sustainable Development
- Solid and Liquid Waste Management
- Swift form Lignite as an energy source
In particular the thematic axis 6 foresees great investments on Waste Water treatment Plants all around the country in order to upgrade their performance and increase their environmental performance.
Site: ypeka.gr/el-gr/Υπουργείο/Γραφείο-Τύπου/Δελτία-Τύπου
ATHENS, 22TH SEPTEMBER 2020
By decision of the General Director of Environment of the Ministry of Environment and Energy, the environmental terms for the existing collective irrigation network in Serbia, Kozani, were approved, with the Local Land Improvement Organization as the operator of the irrigation network.
More specific the current permit includes modernization works on the entire irrigation network as follows:
- Replacement of electromechanical equipment
- Maintenance of hydraulic systems
- Installation of a photovoltaic park, with nominal power 499.75 KW
- Procurement of water abstraction control units
- Technical works for increasing operational safety
site: ypeka.gr/el-gr/Υπουργείο/Γραφείο-Τύπου/Δελτία-Τύπου
ATHENS, 28TH SEPTEMBER 2020
Conference "Urban Water - Energy Cycle: from source to final consumer and return to the environment”
In the context of the implementation of the project «Urban water full cycle: from its source to its end-users and back to the environment, acronym of the project WATenERgy CYCLE», funded by the INTERREG Balkan-Mediterranean Programme, the General Secretariat for Natural Environment and Water hosts the project’s dissemination awareness event. The event will be based on presentations of the pilot actions implemented by the project partners and the policy recommendations for water pricing, water efficiency and energy recovery in water supply networks. Due to the Covid-19 situation and aiming to protect the public health this event will be held via an electronic platform. Please, kindly confirm your participation, in the link below – Google form https://forms.gle/EWZ7kvgyaAy31dAz8
Please find attached the invitation and the agenda of the meeting. Following your confirmation of your participation, you will receive information about the details of the teleconference.