Tackling Energy Challenges

Greece Extends Its Energy Corridor Influence Across the Mediterranean

The Eastern Mediterranean is rapidly evolving into a key energy hub for the 21st century. Crete and the Ionian Sea, due to their strategic location and promising geological indicators, have the potential to become complementary energy corridors linking North Africa with Europe.

Nuclear Energy Returns to the Global Stage — What It Means for Europe and Greece

As countries face the urgent need to support growing electricity demand, secure energy supplies, and cut carbon emissions, nuclear power is being re-evaluated as a key part of the energy mix.

Europe, Africa, and Asia on the Road to Electrification

Beyond Europe’s borders, Africa and Asia are advancing at distinct paces, embracing electrification strategies shaped by their specific contexts and priorities. This reflects not only technological shifts but also the broader evolution of their societies.

When Sea Corridors Trap the Supply Chain

Although oil prices may stabilize over time following initial spikes, the cumulative impact of sustained risk and uncertainty continues to weigh heavily on global economic performance.

Greece’s Role in Europe–Africa Connectivity

Greece plays a pivotal role in the evolving energy and infrastructure corridor between Africa and Europe. This article was initially published in Defense Point on June 21, 2025 and reproduced by energia.gr

Strait of Hormuz: What an Iranian "blockade" will mean for shipping, energy and the economy

On June 24, 2025, the Naftemporiki TV program "On Politics", featuring journalist Filippos Filippakopoulos, presented an in-depth interview that explored the potential ramifications of a suspected Iranian “blockade” on global shipping, energy markets, and economic stability.

Energy Competitions in the Mediterranean

Western Eurasia Energy Interconnectivity: East-West The Role of the Mediterranean Sea - by Yannis Bassias - Presented 12 June 2025 - Hellenic Institute of Strategic Studies (ELISME)

The Charm of Large Energy Projects

Recent experience shows that producing and using electricity close to its point of generation, as well as storing gases near their emission sites, forms a cornerstone for cost reduction and the success of such investments.

What Spain's blackout teaches-The reliability of energy grids and geopolitical strategies

The EU's current energy interconnections cannot guarantee security of supply unless they are backed up by robust thermal generators capable of preventing incidents similar το that of the Iberia peninsula.

Carbon Capture and Storage - Economic Challenges and Infrastructure

The ambitious projects have an irresistible charm, attracting governments, engineers and industries that see them as opportunities for radical changes in energy transport and industrial greenhouse gases capture.

Arctic Energy: Alliances and Realignments

Major oil companies are interested in developing rapid gas extraction activities, including in the Arctic Circle, with the aim of meeting the projected needs of energy for artificial intelligence and data centers.

Electrical Malfunctions in Iberia

The April 28 blackout highlighted the critical need for a reliable electricity supply, as key functions such as telecommunications, banking and transport were disrupted.

Ministry of Environment and Energy visits Chevron and ExxonMobil in Houston

Finally, the Ministry of Environment is visiting the companies Chevron and ExxonMobil in Houston, said the former CEO of the Hellenic Hydrocarbon Management Company.

The Paradox of Energy Networks: Stability and Risk

Energy interconnectivity is a double-edged sword—while it enhances global stability and cooperation, it also exposes critical infrastructure to significant risks, from technical failures to geopolitical vulnerabilities.

Tracing the Challenges of the Energy Transition

In 2024, Yannis Kampouris and I authored an article examining the challenges that electricity grids would face in the future. At the time, we could not have anticipated how quickly these issues would become a reality in Southern Europe.

The hidden cost of unchecked renewable growth

The phenomenon of negative electricity prices has become a reality across Europe, and due to the rapid expansion of photovoltaic systems without adequate storage capacity, it is now emerging in Greece as well.

Energy, the new European dilemma: The MAGA problems and the Russian... Whispers

The trade war launched by Donald Trump against the European Union has ushered in a new cycle of geoeconomic uncertainty alongside an old energy dilemma for Europe: Should it officially reopen the door to Russian natural gas?

The diplomacy of drilling

In contested maritime regions, such as the Eastern Mediterranean, drilling rights become a tool for diplomacy, influencing economic policies and territorial claims.

Shifting Sands: Geopolitics, Tariffs, and Europe's Energy Defense

The slowdown in economic growth, the shift of industrial production to Asia, and the acceleration of technological advancements are fostering new opportunities but also disrupting established economic systems.

The new Trump tariffs and their impact on the energy market

As the global landscape becomes increasingly unstable, Europe finds itself in a delicate balance of geopolitical tensions, shifting alliances, and economic uncertainties.

Drilling diplomacy: How Chevron is changing the map south of Crete

Chevron’s plan to initiate exploration south of Crete represents a significant shift in the energy landscape of the Eastern Mediterranean, with particular importance for Greece.

The critical energy fields in the Eastern Mediterranean

Public attention is focused on the electrical cables due to Turkish violations in the Dodecanese. Meanwhile, hydrocarbon exploration in Greek waters and the completion of maritime spatial planning have taken a back seat.

Energy mix and social acceptance

The energy transition is widely accepted and is one of the greatest challenges of our time, aiming at the progressive transformation of today's fossil fuel-based energy systems into low-carbon systems.

Exxon and Chevron – Their presence in Greece and the background of their rivalry

The presence of the two major American companies, Exxon Mobil and Chevron, aside from its clear geopolitical implications, also showcases signs of commercial competition. This is significant for Greece, which is positioned on the opposite side of the median line with Libya.

The exploration of hydrocarbons and their geopolitical significance

Now that Libya is opening a tender for three offshore blocks at the median line with Greece and three more near the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of Malta and Italy, international alliances for bid submissions will emerge.

Geopolitical developments - Cables, pipelines and electricity

Greece must ensure the continuation of the GIS electrical interconnection project, which is one-third funded by the EU, while also safeguarding its sovereign rights in its territorial waters.

Cables, pipelines and electricity

Public attention has shifted recently to electricity cables and Turkey’s violations in the Dodecanese, pushing hydrocarbon exploration and the completion of marine spatial planning to the background.

Electric interconnections-The backdrop of the energy situation

In the middle of the GIS interconnector crisis the EU has increased its reliance on American LNG, and at the same time has raised imports of Russian LNG.

"Electric routes, compromises, and choices

At the end of February, the EU Court sternly pointed out Greece’s chronic delays in completing its planning, arguing that this weakens both Greece’s territorial sovereignty and that of the EU.

What changes in the fuels market

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, proposed to the then US presidential candidate Donald Trump in early November to replace the Russian gas with US LNG.

Arctic partnerships and energy upheavals

The US's interest in rare earth elements and Russia's focus on developing the Arctic economy and shipping provide a potential framework for the two countries to coexist on the planet. From the US perspective, achieving peace in the broader European area appears to be rooted in a dual export model: peace and the arms industry in light of China’s influence.

Arctic collaborations and energy shifts

U.S.-Russian delegations in Riyadh identified areas of cooperation in the Arctic, which is believed to have 13 percent of uncertified oil globally and 30 percent of untapped natural gas reserves. In addition, the United States and Russia are interested in accelerating exploration and extraction of critical raw materials such as copper, cobalt and rare earths in the Arctic.

American oil giants in Greece

Chevron's interest, alongside ExxonMobil's existing operations in Greece, underscores the country's potential in the global energy market. On the other hand the greek initiative prioritizes environmental considerations, including the release of licensed exploration areas in the Ionian Sea to form a continuous National Marine Park.

US-Russia are handing out much more than Ukraine

The U.S.-Russian discussions cover a wide range of topics including the potential lifting of sanctions on Russian exports, attacks by both Ukrainian and Russian forces on pipeline infrastructure, the future of Nord Stream, the challenges of increasing LNG exports to the EU, Ukrainian metal exports, and on top the Arctic cooperation.

Top analysis of the energy chessboard-US-Russia-EU energy poker. The case of Greece

In 2025, as transit through Ukraine is expected to stop, more U.S. LNG will come to Europe. However, in 2024, European imports of Russian LNG continued their upward trend.

Energy shifts lead Chevron to Greece

Chevron's interest in Kyparissiakos was driven by three key factors: the U.S. presidential inauguration, new sanctions imposed on Russian hydrocarbon exports, and the drone attack on Turkstream's facilities in Russia.

The revival of nuclear energy and the second chance for Greece

What are the economic, technological, environmental, and geopolitical factors fueling the renewed global interest in nuclear energy? Should the country seize this second chance in the nuclear field to address the challenges of the new era?

Drilling Boom in Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, and Albania, While Greece Lags Behind

It's surprising to see the extensive exploration, extraction, and exploitation of natural gas and oil around Greece, especially when compared to Greece's inactivity in this sector.

Cause and Effect: Economic Transition and Implications for the Energy Mix

Starting with Saint-Exupéry’s quote, “A goal without a plan is just a wish,” the book addresses the public debate and political discourse that has long promoted a “green energy transition”.

Why Batteries and Nuclear Matter in the Future Energy Landscape

The needs of the 'developing' world (6.5 billion people versus 1.5 billion in the 'developed' world, with about 30% of the global population lacking access to electricity) can be unpredictable.

Tracing the Challenges of the Energy Transition

The high cost of achieving the current energy transformation, along with the corresponding economic and social impacts, is the cause of increasing disputes, particularly in the Western world.

Unpacking the Energy Transition – Economic and Geopolitical Dimensions

The term “energy transition” reflects only a subset of the broader global economic upheavals. The transition is fundamentally economic, with direct effects on the energy mix, the food systems, and the geopolitical/military dynamics.

Correcting Electricity-Production Gap with High-Density Energy Sources

The security and resilience of an electricity system largely depend on its ability to match production with demand under all conditions. The widespread adoption of renewable energy sources complicates this balance due to the lack of large-scale storage capacity of electricity.

How Greece will become an energy hub

Geopolitical developments have a profound impact on the energy market, as international relations, trade agreements, and strategic alliances determine access to energy resources and their prices. Germany and the EU observes the development of Greek hydrocarbons, as Europe seeks ways to reduce its dependence on Russian natural gas and strengthen its energy security.

Analysis of energy developments – The transition is primarily economic

What does 600 bcm natural gas mean in Crete

Tracing the Challenges of the Energy Transition

The decarbonization of the economy is expected to be achieved through the electrification of energy consumption and an increasing dependence on Renewable Energy Sources (RES). However, this objective has recently faced significant challenges, sparking political, economic, and social tensions.