Hydrogen can help stabilise the power system

Meeting of former MEP J. Catzimarkakis with Deputy Regional Governor Lasithiou (Eastern Crete)

Former MEP?Jorgo?Catzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe , the Association of all major companies dealing with Hydrogen, is currently in Crete, stealing a few days of summer vacation in Lasithi, a reference point for his relationship with his family and friends.

In this context, he met with the Deputy Governor of Lasithi, Yiannis Androulakis, and they had a particularly useful and "extremely interesting" meeting, as he pointed out. Today he may be the leading person in Europe in the promotion of hydrogen, but at the same time he remains an ambassador of the value and importance of hydrogen for the new era where the environment has a dominant role in the life and everyday life of citizens.

As stated in a report by Michalis Atsalakis in the regional daily ANTOLI, hydrogen must have its own role. And this is twofold: One part is about the decarbonization of molecules to limit carbon dioxide emissions, every technology should be acceptable, we should have diversity in technologies, he said. The second is the blackout that happens all over the world due to the intermittent effect of RES, said Mr.?Chatzimarkakis. In this regard, he cited Germany as an example, where last year a 40% share of RES in power production was recorded, but the cost of cuts and network management reached billions of euros. "The power networks must be strengthened but the cost of grid ramp-up is 20 times higher compared with molecules and grid congestion costs reached 11 billion Euro in 2023. Hydrogen can help by yielding flexibility through storage and transportation," he pointed out.

Although he believes that Greece does not show enough enthusiasm in moving forward with important projects and pioneering while it can, he nevertheless believes that Crete stands out and he discussed this in detail with the Vice-Regional Governor of Crete responsible for the Eastern Province Lassithi and Home of the Atherinolakos power plant producing roughly half of the electricity on the island. Atherinolakos is connected to an ambitious plan including hydrogen and hence helping to stabilise the electricity supply system throughout Crete. But at the same time and above all it can support the pivotal role that the region has as the point where the great Eastern Mediterranean pipeline (EastMed) first arrives. To then be driven via mainland Greece to Italy.?

All of the above are pieces of a puzzle that is being made in this period and in the years to come. It is the puzzle of the energy routes of the eastern Mediterranean in which Crete has a key geopolitical role. And as the Deputy Governor of Lasithiou rightly pointed out during the meeting, "we are not discovering now what the history of this place has shown us. Historically, eastern Crete has formed strong trade relations with Egypt and the eastern Mediterranean as a whole since the Minoan era", as stated by Yiannis Androulakis.

And this can and must continue in our time, be upgraded and rechristened through the paths of civilization that are important and decisive for the future, through the paths of energy and communication networks that must cross the wider region.

At the meeting there were many ideas and proposals for connection and cooperation that were examined and it was a first highly interesting contact that may have a continuation with obvious benefit for eastern Crete and Lassithi. But also for the whole island which is a point of reference for quality agricultural products, its nutrition, tourism but also history and culture and today tends to become an energy hub of all the roads and pipelines in the eastern part of the Mediterranean.

MICHALIS ATSALAKIS