"The fight between the Greek Public Power Corporation and Greenpeace is the fight of oil against sun and wind. It is the fight of the conservative energy status quo against the future, against renewable energy"
October 1995
Greenpeace begins the Solar Crete campaign to halt the construction of a new oil-fired power station and increase the use of solar energy resources.
November 95-March 96
Greenpeace holds a number of meetings in Crete with politicians, local authorities, companies interested in investing, and local communities opposing the oil-fired power station.
April 1996
Greenpeace takes action at the Ministry of Development (Energy). Activists at the Ministry HQ entrance replace light bulbs with energy efficient CFLs, and demand a nationwide energy efficiency programme. The Minister announces the launch of a pilot project to start on Crete in June, and promises that the scheme will become nationwide, with free CFLs offered to small Aegean islands.
June 1996
The PPC starts the light bulb replacement project in Crete. Although badly designed, 45,000 light bulbs are replaced in the first five months and the PPC promises to continue and expand the project.
June 1996
Amoco/Enron Solar, one of the companies invited by Greenpeace to consider investing in solar power on Crete, presents a proposal to the government for a 50MW photovoltaic power station on the island. The proposal also raises the option of a manufacturing facility in Greece. The Government response is neutral.
June/July 1996
Cyrus, the world's largest mobile solar generator owned by Greenpeace tours Crete to spread the solar message. Thousands of people visit the truck and exhibition. Eleven solar-powered concerts are held, and Cyrus powers the first ever solar-powered TV and radio broadcasts in Greece. Greenpeace presents the Solar Crete proposal - to make the island totally powered by renewables and energy efficiency technologies. The PPC reacts by saying photovoltaics are neither competitive nor feasible, and supports the construction of the new oil-fired power station.
September 1996
Greenpeace launches a joint project with the Hotel Association of Crete asking for an expansion of the energy efficiency light bulbs project.
Greenpeace invites the world's solar companies to participate in a bid to install photovoltaics systems nationwide as part of a Government scheme.
October 1996
Greenpeace takes action against the PPC HQ accusing them of deliberately blocking renewables. A scandal from 1995 is exposed again where wind turbine blades are found on a rubbish tip and two wind parks of 10MW remained idle for three years. The PPC promises to reopen the wind parks in 1997.
October-November 1996
The Greenpeace ship MV Arctic Sunrise sails to Crete where activists scale the oil-fired power station to demand a switch to solar power. The next day Greenpeace installs a solar photovoltaic system at a school in Goudouras, the proposed site of the new oil-fired power station. It is the first solar-powered school in Greece.
December 1996
Greenpeace presents a photovoltaic guide for houses. More than 500 consumers express interest to install solar systems but support is not yet available from the Greek Government.
February 1997
Greenpeace reveals a tax scandal and helps force legislation which offers tax deductions for renewables that reduces their costs by 30 per cent.
March 1997
Following the Greenpeace invitation, IWECO Solar, a newly formed Greek subsidiary of Enron, presents a proposal for the first 5MW of a 50MW solar photovoltaic power station on Crete. The company also starts contacting government officials in other countries in the Mediterranean and the broader Middle East and North Africa area, and is examining the potential for a photovoltaic manufacturing facility in Greece.
April 1997
Greenpeace presents a proposal for a 1,000 roofs project to the Greek Government by the end of 1998, which aims to give incentives to hundreds of interested citizens.
May 1997
Decision on the first 5MW tranche to be taken.
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