Renewable energy powers sustainable tourism in Kafireas

Two archeological sites that came to light during the construction of the Kafireas wind farm – on the Greek island of Evia, in the Aegean sea – have been developed thanks to Enel Green Power’s contribution, inviting visitors to discover the new findings while promoting sustainable tourism and boosting the local economy. The complex in Kafireas was inaugurated on 15 October 2019, and is composed of seven distinct wind farms; with a total installed capacity of 154 MW, it is capable of generating around 480 GWh a year, reducing annual CO2 emissions by approximately 315,00 metric tons. During the works, which involved the excavation of more than half a million tons of earth and rock – later utilized to return an inactive quarry to its natural state – two remarkable archaeological discoveries were made in the area of Mount Ochi. The first site, near the Amigdalia power plant, is an ancient Roman marble quarry dating back to the 1st century AD, which was likely opened to extract material intended for the construction of a building abroad (two partially crumbled columns were discovered in the area, beneath a layer of gravel) and then reused at a later date. The second discovery was made in the area of Kapsouri: the remains of an ancient temple dating back to the 7th century BC were brought to light, and its central chamber and other spaces connected to it were identified. The excavations also led to the discovery of ceramic fragments painted with hunting scenes and bass reliefs – now undergoing restoration and conservation so they can be placed on display in the future. Enel Green Power Greece has cleared, arranged and reorganized the two areas, facilitating tourist access with information panels that were realized and installed at the archaeological sites as well as directional road signs that will be placed. What is more, thanks to the know-how of local craftsmen the panels were made using enameled stone from Karystos, thus fostering their integration with the landscape by using a natural and valuable material that is also long lasting. This type of project well represents the vision pursued by Enel Green Power, which began operating in the Greek market in 2008: to contribute, through tangible actions, to the sustainability of local activities and resources, which are preserved and enhanced for the good of the whole community. In Kafireas, we are championing a model of sustainable tourism that makes visitors’ stays more interesting, while also increasing residents’ quality of life from an economic point of view and in terms of social cohesion, maintaining the integrity and authenticity of the locations where we are present.

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Renewable energy powers sustainable tourism in Kafireas

Renewable energy powers sustainable tourism in Kafireas