This dissertation was written as part of the MSc in Energy Law, Business, Regulation and Policy at the International Hellenic University.
Renewable energy resources have been at the centre of world attention for a significant period of time, as the majority of countries concentrate their efforts on safeguarding public health and the environment. However, the ever-growing volumes of waste are certain to hamper those efforts, if they are managed inefficiently. Thus, as soon as the level of the environmental impact of landfills was realised, the academic community and the political vanguard turned towards discovering and implementing technologies and policies, which would drive waste away from landfills; amongst them, waste-to-energy stands out as an efficient way to treat waste and extract valuable amounts of energy in the process.
However, Greece has yet to develop sufficient WTE capacity, simultaneously demonstrating low performances in recycling and energy recovery and a high landfilling rate. Therefore, this dissertation attempts to explain why this happens and, hopefully, draw attention on the issue, so that eventually Greek authorities change their course. Chapter 1 is introductory, containing a brief historical overview of relevant developments. The main Waste-to-energy technologies are described in Chapter 2; Chapter 3 contains an overview of the European legal framework for WTE, presenting four fundamental European Directives and several policy instruments of the EU; it proceeds to examine the national legal framework, not omitting a critical approach of its main deficiencies. Chapter 4 presents examples of countries which either possess a considerable WTE capacity or have made remarkable progress in the sector in the recent past, such as Portugal, and then proceeds to examine the present situation in Greece regarding waste management. The main points of debate regarding WTE are examined in Chapter 5, including elements of personal consideration where possible. Chapter 6 attempts to elaborate on both positive and negative aspects of WTE in the pattern of an unorthodox SWOT analysis, containing advantages, disadvantages, opportunities and barriers. The dissertation concludes with Chapter 7, which tries to delve into the reasons why Greece is lagging behind most developed countries in incorporating WTE in its energy planning; finally, recommendations are made on a legislative and strategic level, so that WTE development in Greece follows a smooth and uneventful course.
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