Biofuels
Biofuels are the only direct substitute for fossil fuels currently available on a large scale as transport fuel. Their use contributes to reduced carbon dioxide CO2 emissions and to more environmentally friendly transport, without requiring further major modifications to vehicles or distribution networks.
Until today, the term biofuel in the Greek market pertained to mainly biodiesel, a fuel having similar properties to those of diesel, which was used as a substance (after being mixed with conventional diesel) in all diesel-powered vehicles. Following recent Greek legislation, the Group is preparing to mix bioethanol with conventional gasoline for use in all petrol-fueled vehicles starting 2019.
Biodiesel received and used as diesel fuel
|
Year
|
Biodiesel
|
% v/v in diesel fuel
|
|
2013
|
101,269
|
6.73
|
|
2014
|
112,891
|
7.00
|
|
2015
|
112,680
|
7.00
|
|
2016
|
116,626
|
7.10
|
|
2017
|
112,338
|
7.11
|
Renewable Energy Sources (R.E.S)
Over the last five years, a 7 MW wind farm in Pylos, Messinia as well as photovoltaic power plants in Group owned properties, with a total nominal power of 1.5 MW, have been developed and are already operational . During 2016, seven photovoltaic projects with a total nominal power of 140 kW were built for self-generation and self-consumption (net metering program) for an equal number of EKO and BP fuel stations. There are four additional photovoltaic projects with a total nominal power of 10.6 MW, as well as five electricity and heat generation units from biomass combustion (from residual agriculture) with a total capacity of 25 MW in various stages of development. Furthermore, in cooperation with LARCO, a portfolio of 143 MW of photovoltaic, wind and hybrid projects are also under development.
The total energy produced by the Group’s photovoltaic stations has exceeded 9 GWh from initial operation and the wind farm’s production in Messinia has respectively exceeded 49 GWh. In total, over 84,000 tons of CO2 emissions have been avoided to date.
Next steps
- Optimizing the facilities’ energy efficiency – energy saving projects
- A climate change risk study – setting an internal carbon price
- A study regarding the actions or projects required for the Group’s facilities’ adaptation to climate change impacts – in progress
- Expand investments in R.E.S