Agios Efstratios, a small Greek island with approximately 250 residents, is poised to make history as the nation’s first energy-autonomous island. By harnessing the power of wind and solar energy, the island aims to meet its electricity and heating needs sustainably.
The transformation is part of the €8.5 million “Green Island” pilot project, jointly funded by the European Union and the Greek government. Implemented by the Greek Centre for Renewable Energy Sources and Saving (CRES), the initiative combines a 1 MW hybrid wind and solar power station with 2.56 MWh of battery storage. An innovative district heating system has also been integrated, utilizing hot water stored in tanks and distributed through a pipe network to heat residents’ homes.
A significant milestone was achieved on October 5th, when the system underwent its first successful test, allowing the island to operate independently on renewable energy for two and a half hours.
Geographic isolation has presented unique challenges for the island, which is not connected to Greece’s power grid and has historically relied on diesel generators for electricity and boilers for heating.
“We are one of the islands farthest from the nearest mainland, and we could neither provide nor receive surplus energy from other islands,” said Mayor Konstantinos Sinanis. “Therefore, we had to ensure our self-sufficiency and channel and consume the surplus energy to the greatest extent possible.”
The project follows the success of similar renewable energy initiatives on the islands of Tilos and Ikaria. According to the Hellenic Electricity Distribution Operator, a comparable pilot project is also underway on Astypalaia, underscoring Greece’s commitment to transforming its islands into models of sustainability.
