At Pezouliotika, the path to sustainable development is both simple and affordable

Our growth is supporting Greece’s ambitious plan for the energy transition, which consists of increasing the renewable share in the energy mix by 35%, adding 9.5 GW RES, by 2030. In particular, the solar target to be achieved by that year in this decidedly sunny country is as high as 7.7 GW, or 11.8 TWh. But in order to create shared value, the energy transition must be just and sustainable: at Enel Green Power Hellas, which has been recognized as one of the country’s “Most Sustainable Companies 2022” by the Quality Net Foundation, following an annual evaluation of business performance based on the ESG (Environment, Society, Governance) criteria, we know this as well as anyone. A clear example of our tangible contribution to decarbonization and a just transition can be found at the Pezouliotika solar farm in Thrace, in the northeast of the Hellenic peninsula. Here a number of actions and best practices have been adopted to minimize its environmental impact and maximize its performance, bringing economic and social benefits to the local communities. One practice in particular stands out as original and innovative, covering in its simplicity all three aspects of the Sustainable Plant model: social, economic and environmental. Solar grazing: feeding two birds with one scone At Pezouliotika, we have partnered with local shepherds for a win-win arrangement: the latter are allowed to bring their sheep to the solar park, where they eat the weeds and other plants that might grow to the point where they prevent the Sun from reaching the panels. In this weed management project, sheep are therefore used to ensure that grass and other plants don’t interfere with the functioning of the solar panels - with less damage to the panels and lower operating costs - in an area where vegetation growth is continuous. "Between March and October at the Pezouliotika solar plant the vegetation is dense, and so it is very useful for me to have the opportunity to leave the sheep inside the fenced and protected area, without having to pay someone to keep an eye on them: therefore, while they are grazing for free, I can complete my other work. The fact that no pesticides and chemicals are used in the plant area makes me confident that I am providing genuine and high-quality food to my sheep." Eregliadis Dimitris, local shepherd At the same time, sheep grazing creates a favorable working environment for our O&M teams, while the daily presence of personnel at the solar park ensures continuous visual monitoring and rapid detection of non‐electrical accidents. By keeping vegetation under control, the solar park becomes a natural firebreak. It also leads to the saving of fuel that would be needed for mechanical cutting and avoids the use of chemical herbicides that can cause pollution of both the soil and water resources. The ‘sheep grazing’ initiative strengthens our relationships with the local community, becoming a best practice example for other PV plant owners all over Greece, as well as for O&M providers. It once again shows our commitment to sustainability and the way our business strategy embraces sustainable practices throughout the O&M phase. Increased safety culture with the Contractors’ Green Card Initiative Most of our O&M and E&C activities are being performed by contractors, who often lack adequate knowledge of our Installations & Procedures. This can create hazardous situations that can lead to unsafe behaviors and even accidents, which obviously goes against our vision of Zero Accidents. In order to tackle risks, a training program has been devised in cooperation with a certified provider, taking into consideration all the high-risk activities performed by contractors’ personnel. The program covers our procedures, work methodologies, knowledge and skills. Upon completion of the course, trainees have to take a final exam and the successful candidates receive a special “Green card” certificate which allows them to work inside all our plants. This training course is carried out in cooperation with a certified organization SEV – IVEPE and is offered free of charge to the contractors. This is an example of how we invest in training to develop a new generation of professionals, while fully endorsing the local supply chain and business sector. Pezouliotika is part of a new generation of power plants that are finding innovative ways to stimulate the energy transition process and contribute to the path that can help Greece become increasingly low carbon and sustainable through renewables. Innovation at the service of Pezouliotika The energy transition currently underway affects all aspects of the electricity system. One of the most disruptive, together with the decarbonization of the electricity generation mix, is digitalization, which is transforming the processes by which energy is produced, distributed and consumed. The digitalization of energy begins where energy begins, at the power plants. Today, part of the management of a solar park is performed by using drones and smart glasses. "During the pandemic smart glasses have helped me perform all the tasks I need to do as supervisor in order to ensure business continuity. These include maintenance activities, safety audits, as well as the continuous monitoring of the agrivoltaic project, without the fear of catching Covid-19." Idris Karapatzar, Plant Supervisor of the Pezouliotika Plant Drones are used for carrying out plant inspections, thus reducing the time required, increasing accuracy and efficiency and eliminating risks to people. In this way, it is also possible to conduct studies and minimize the environmental impact on biodiversity or the management of water resources around plants. Smart glasses enable office-bound operators to use their monitors in order to see in real time what is happening in a plant that may be situated a long way away and, if necessary, to provide remote support to the personnel on the ground via a live link. "Using Innovative technologies in solar parks optimizes inspections and quality checks around the world by combining local resources with remote expertise. Local technicians everywhere, whatever their experience level, can be guided and at the same time trained on the job by the most experienced EGP personnel. Furthermore, we reduce travel expenses and, during the pandemic, we were able to support local technicians in real time, thereby significantly reducing the risk of spreading Covid-19." George Koutroumpezis, Solar Technology Service Greece The technologies that we have implemented are focused on safer and more efficient production processes, while tangibly reducing both environmental and economic impacts by opening up new horizons for increasingly sustainable management models.

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At Pezouliotika, the path to sustainable development is both simple and affordable

At Pezouliotika, the path to sustainable development is both simple and affordable

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