Introduction

The Association of Local Authorities of Greater Thessaloniki constructed a plant producing power from biogas, resulting from the main landfill of Thessaloniki.

Objectives and target audience

Project’s objectives: a) Improving the quality of live of the inhabitants, b) protecting the environment (sanitary upgrading to the EU environmental standards of landfill sites by eliminating the odour from the main landfill by collecting the produced biogas, promotion of alternative sources of energy by diminishing the gases that contribute to the green house effect), c) ease the burden from the growing bills of electricity but also ensure revenues form the sales of electricity to the national network.

Target audience: the project is directly targeted at the population of the immediate area of Tagarades, but the attended benefits are addressed to the general public of Thessaloniki.

Financial Resources and Partners involved

The total cost of the unit (including collection system, pipes, wells) was 6,35 million €.  The project was financed by public funds (40%) and private funds (60%).
The Public Power Corporation SA buys the produced energy and transfers it to the national electricity network.

Process

The project included the following tasks: public procurement for the study and construction of the project by a private company, preparation of all necessary studies, approval of all necessary permits for construction, including environmental impact issues, construction of the factory and all necessary installations, final tests and operation.

Results

The benefits of such investment are not to be limited only to the income generated by the sale of electricity to the Public Power Corporation SA (the Association will be receiving 11,1% of the gross income from the sales for a period time of 33 years + there is a future possibility to also supply the near-by villages with hot water).  By contributing to reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, the electricity generated from biogas has also a positive effect on the environment (in November 2007, 30.000.000 KWh have been produced).
From a social point of view, the construction of new landfill sites usually gives rise to strong reactions among the population.  However, the exploitation of renewable energy sources has the sympathy of the general public and facilitates public acceptance of such projects.

Critical Success Factors / Challenges

The construction of a power station by the Association of Local Authorities of Greater Thessaloniki was the first biogas recovery scheme for energy purposes to be implemented in Greece, and experience in this field was needed prior to developing larger scale projects.  Furthermore, it was seen as an opportunity to develop a cost-benefit analysis of biogas utilization as part of a waste management strategy, no prior analysis being available.
The project was supported by a number of public relation actions geared to inform the inhabitants and increase public acceptance (brochures, presentation of the recycling programme at primary schools etc).
The project was presented in many conferences in Greece and abroad, while the Association of Local Authorities of Greater Thessaloniki became a member of “Energie-Cités “, the Association of European local authorities promoting sustainable local energy policies.