Greece 191
stakeholders deem that the capacity to mitigate their impacts is significantly
better when compared to a fuzzy regulatory framework. This is why, with the
exception of the representatives of the research community and of electric utilities, all stakeholder groups appeared to be significantly more concerned with
regulatory bureaucracy than fuzziness.
On the technological axis, the main concerns expressed revolved around the
current lack of storage technologies; poorly equipped, inexperienced personnel; and
geographic barriers. The latter include difficulties in implementing actions in city
centres, as well as poor infrastructure risks such as the saturation and security
level of the power grid and the absence of interconnections necessary for proper
penetration of renewables in the built environment.
Other implementation risks were only mentioned once or twice and as insignificant. These include the inadequacy of business models for the residential
sector, plus the limited liberalisation of the internal electricity market and
respective operators. An interesting example lies in the limited reference to the
ageing Greek building stock, which could be considered either as a risk hindering the diffusion of energy- efficient technologies or overburdening the transformation costs, or as an opportunity for the success of the transition pathway
(given the large underlying potential), depending on the perspective.
The identified implementation risks can also have synergistic effects. For
example, poor prioritisation of climatic change and action, political instability,
and frequent changes to a consequently fuzzy regulatory environment can all be
intertwined, as well as linked to a sceptic, distrustful, even hostile society.
Drawing from the unique characteristics of the Greek economy, another
example can be found in the financial capacity. An ongoing recession can have
detrimental impacts on all other dimensions and significantly expand the
ground for the manifestation of the remaining implementation risks. This adds
not only to the likelihood of their occurrence but also to the level of their
impact and the capacity to mitigate either.
In the MCGDM analysis on the perceived performance of the ten implementation risks against their likelihood to occur, the level of their impact on the transition pathway, the capacity to mitigate their impacts, and the level of the concern,
as perceived by the involved stakeholders, the latter appear to be mostly worried by
political inertia, closely followed by the lack of financial capacity and the bureaucratic complexity of the energy efficiency- associated processes (Figure 11.1). They
feel that both of the perceived risks on the societal axis are of medium importance
and relevance to the effective design of a sustainable and robust pathway to an
energy- efficient and climate- resilient Greek economy. Finally, non- provision for
economic incentives, tax breaks, and subsidies, along with risks of technological
nature, were considered the least critical by the engaged stakeholders.
Consequential risks
The tariff deficit is the most prominent concern in the discussion of potentially
negative consequences of a low- carbon transition pathway, and of an energy
stakeholders deem that the capacity to mitigate their impacts is significantly
better when compared to a fuzzy regulatory framework. This is why, with the
exception of the representatives of the research community and of electric utilities, all stakeholder groups appeared to be significantly more concerned with
regulatory bureaucracy than fuzziness.
On the technological axis, the main concerns expressed revolved around the
current lack of storage technologies; poorly equipped, inexperienced personnel; and
geographic barriers. The latter include difficulties in implementing actions in city
centres, as well as poor infrastructure risks such as the saturation and security
level of the power grid and the absence of interconnections necessary for proper
penetration of renewables in the built environment.
Other implementation risks were only mentioned once or twice and as insignificant. These include the inadequacy of business models for the residential
sector, plus the limited liberalisation of the internal electricity market and
respective operators. An interesting example lies in the limited reference to the
ageing Greek building stock, which could be considered either as a risk hindering the diffusion of energy- efficient technologies or overburdening the transformation costs, or as an opportunity for the success of the transition pathway
(given the large underlying potential), depending on the perspective.
The identified implementation risks can also have synergistic effects. For
example, poor prioritisation of climatic change and action, political instability,
and frequent changes to a consequently fuzzy regulatory environment can all be
intertwined, as well as linked to a sceptic, distrustful, even hostile society.
Drawing from the unique characteristics of the Greek economy, another
example can be found in the financial capacity. An ongoing recession can have
detrimental impacts on all other dimensions and significantly expand the
ground for the manifestation of the remaining implementation risks. This adds
not only to the likelihood of their occurrence but also to the level of their
impact and the capacity to mitigate either.
In the MCGDM analysis on the perceived performance of the ten implementation risks against their likelihood to occur, the level of their impact on the transition pathway, the capacity to mitigate their impacts, and the level of the concern,
as perceived by the involved stakeholders, the latter appear to be mostly worried by
political inertia, closely followed by the lack of financial capacity and the bureaucratic complexity of the energy efficiency- associated processes (Figure 11.1). They
feel that both of the perceived risks on the societal axis are of medium importance
and relevance to the effective design of a sustainable and robust pathway to an
energy- efficient and climate- resilient Greek economy. Finally, non- provision for
economic incentives, tax breaks, and subsidies, along with risks of technological
nature, were considered the least critical by the engaged stakeholders.
Consequential risks
The tariff deficit is the most prominent concern in the discussion of potentially
negative consequences of a low- carbon transition pathway, and of an energy