EU Green Capital Valencia will host 2024 edition of European Urban Resilience Forum
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
This would result in the first renewable energy production projects in the Black and Aegean Seas
It looks like offshore wind farms could begin popping up in Southeastern Europe after reports came out about plans in Greece and Romania to initiate the study and delimitation of marine zones for the creation of these facilities.
This would mean that both the Black and Aegean Seas could start hosting their first wind turbines in the coming years, a seascape view that’s become increasingly common in the north of Europe but is yet to make inroads in other parts of the continent.
Romania’s push for wind energy harvesting will start with the submission of a draft law to the country’s parliament on the part of ANRE, the energy market regulator. The legislation will seek to define a regulatory framework for the proper development of wind farm investments in the territorial waters of the country.
In addition, by June 2025, Romania will decide on the Black Sea perimeters available to interested investors. These will be leased under 30-year concession contracts, renewable once for 10 more years. Such contracts can become a reality by the end of 2025. The state will provide subsidies for the development of wind farms of up to 3GW.
This past October marked a milestone for Greece when, for the first time in its history, Greece was powered entirely by renewable energy, although only for five hours. What’s surprising, however, is that despite its large marine territory, the Balkan country doesn’t have any wind farms.
That is now about to change after the Greek government began to study the viability of developing some of its watery territories to host offshore floating wind turbines.
The greatest challenge for the development of offshore wind energy in Greece is licensing time since many public authorities are involved in the process and have to issue their own licenses.
What’s more, environmentalists have raised concerns about the potential damage to the marine environment.
Nevertheless, the authorities say that the plan will be approved by the end of the year and the designation of the areas will be ready by the end of next year. Four of the zones will be located in the Aegean Sea: eastern Crete, southern Rhodes, the central Aegean, the Evia-Chios Axis, and another one will be in the Ionian Sea.
The Greek government aims to develop an offshore capacity of 4.9GW, exclusively for floating wind parks.
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
The island is dead set on doing something about the problem of overtourism
The event, officially called Krakow Equality March, will be held next week
This is city twinning for the 21st century
You can find it in the capital Sofia, where it was installed upon the initiative of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
People in both cities got to sit together both in person and virtually
An illegal landfill will turn into a parking lot for cars confiscated by the police
It also features fast-charging stations for e-buses
Crucial aspects of resilience, sustainable development and recovery will be under the thematic spotlight
This is the day when all madrileños take local pride in their city and culture
And the results were immediate, two Sunday services had to be performed to accommodate the crowd
The island is dead set on doing something about the problem of overtourism
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team