Through a procedure unprecedented in Greek data, Ministry of the Environment initiates approval wind power plant 58 windmills in Southern Skyros, in an untouched area. After the negative reviews of the departments, mainly due to the presence of the largest Mauropetrite colony in our country, the ministry turned to OFYPECA (Environmental Protection and Climate Change Agency) recommend compensatory measures for the endangered falcon… in other areas.

The proposed project by Aeolitic South Skyros SA concerns the construction of six wind farms with 58 wind turbines (each 150-180 meters high) on Mount Kochilas in the south of Skyros. This is a virgin area that belongs to the monastery of the Great Lavra. Much of the disputed area has been included in the Natura 2000 network due to the presence of important bird species, chief among which is the black petrel (because it hosts its largest colony in Greece).

OUR environmental impact study shows the impacts on endangered species as manageable if the recommended measures are implemented. Among them, the installation of an automated collision avoidance system, the shutdown of 19 wind turbines located on the mauropetrite routes from late September to the end of October, and the shutdown of 45 wind turbines located in the mauropetrite feeding zone from April to October. wind under certain conditions and much more.

Refusal

The Ministry of the Interior referred to a Community regulation to increase the penetration of RES in order to reduce energy dependence on Russia.

However, OFYPEKA, in her opinion, rejects these measures. As for the automated collision system, “there is now sufficient evidence that it is not always effective.” As for the intended positive impact that the periodic shutdown of wind turbines would have, it is “considered unacceptable” as it takes for granted the behavior of species in a very specific way. Accordingly, he rejects these measures for the rest of the species Natura was created to protect, such as the Smyrnocichlon and the Spitz Eagle. For example, with regard to the latter, it states that “the impact of the project under consideration on the bald eagle population in terms of breeding and foraging will be significant and not weak, as indicated in the Special Environmental Assessment.”

OFYPEKA indicates that the area is practically untouched (which is why the University of Ioannina proposed to include it in the “roadless areas”, but without the subsequent inclusion of the MIA in the “Unclaimed Mountains”). Finally, “the nature and extent of the infrastructure and associated projects will irreversibly alter the high aesthetic value of the protected area’s natural landscape.”

The interest in the case is that the project was proposed in the past (on a clearly large scale, 111 wind turbines) and was rejected by the Ministry of the Environment. Subsequently, temporary protection measures were introduced through the preparation of the LIFE program with the participation of the Hellenic Ornithological Society and the Hellenic Society for Environment and Culture. The company appealed the defense, but the appeal was rejected by the Supreme Court. However, the temporary protection ended without its extension by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the institutionalization of a presidential decree for the region. “There is a strong possibility that at its release it will be decided that the installation of wind turbines is incompatible with the protection of biodiversity. Logic suggests that first a presidential decree should be issued, and then wind farms should be licensed,” the Department of Climate Change of the Ministry of Internal Affairs notes in its conclusion.

And while the case seemed to be approaching the same conclusion as in the past, the Foreign Office referred to the recent urgent EU regulation to increase the penetration of renewable energy (to reduce energy dependence on Russia). And he asked OFYPEKA to determine compensatory measures to boost … in other parts of Greece the Mauropetrite population, arguing that the development of a wind farm in the south of Skyros serves the public interest. All indications are that the case will again be referred to the Council of State in a context that the Supreme Court will deal with for the first time.