Mt. Athos looking to introduce renewable energy sources

Experts of the Greek state’s Center for Preservation of the Athonite Heritage (CPAH) gave a presentation recently on the introduction of renewable energy sources to Mt. Athos. The presentation was given in the Stefanos Dragoumis Hall in the Museum of Byzantine Culture in Thessaloniki together with the Holy Mt. Athos Center, reports Russian Athos.

The presentation “The Energy Problem on Mt. Athos: The Need and Challenges” was given by CPAH director Vasilios Hadjimikheilidis and CPAH engineers Achilles Kappis and Stelios Korbetis.

According to the experts, the construction and growing number of monks on Mt. Athos in recent decades, as well as the serious increase in the number of pilgrims has brought an increase in the energy needs on the Holy Mountain. Since Mt. Athos is not connected to the Greek electric grid, the monasteries’ needs are met by independent oil and diesel generators, which leads to noise and air pollution and high costs for the struggling monasteries.

As this problem has become very acute for the Holy Mountain over the past decades, it was decided to introduce renewable energy sources. There is the possibility of producing electricity from natural resources on the mountain such as sunlight, water flow, wind, and geothermal heat, which are of course naturally replenished.

According to the CPAH experts, the first photovoltaic panels were installed on Mt. Athos over the past five years, which should help fill parts of the mountain’s energy needs.

The presenters also noted that the CPAH plans to fully implement renewable energy sources in all monasteries of the Holy Mountain in the coming years.

Source: Orthochristian.com