BUSINESS: 477 PRACTICES
Founded in December 2008, Enel Green Power Hellas is the Enel Green Power Group company dedicated to the development and management of power generation from renewable sources in Greece, with 308 MW of installed capacity.
Read more: www.enelgreenpower.com
The company's goal is to support the environment and the local communities where it operates within the framework of the mutual value creation model. Vamvakies a social green project is an innovative program implemented for the first time in Greece. It is an initiative of Enel Green Power Hellas with Wise Greece with the support of the Bioeconomy and Environment Cluster (CLUBE) and the Municipality of Kozani.
The aim of the program is to Strengthen the Local Society, the creation of a new production model that combines the production of energy from photovoltaics with the agricultural production within the project and the investment in the next generation. The name of this program comes from the Vamvakies photovoltaic project that the company has in operation near Polymylos Kozani, so it is a green project, while at the same time it supports the local community (social). This specific initiative contributes to the achievement of the Global Sustainable Development Goals to which Enel is committed, specifically to the following goals: Goal 4 - Quality education, Goal 8 - Decent work and economic growth, Goal 11 - Sustainable cities and communities, Goal 17 - Cooperation for the goals
To anyone active in the prefecture of Kozani
This initiative started in October 2021 and you estimate that it will last for 1 year
The Vamvakies photovoltaic park, with a total power of 6.5MW, is located near Polymylos in Kozani, where, based on the study prepared by the Bioeconomy and Environment Cluster of Western Macedonia (CLUBE), the cultivation of aromatic plants is being carried out for the first time in Greece within the area of the photovoltaic plant, such as paliuri and mountain tea from a small group of women who live in the wider area. This team is equipped with all the necessary tools and plants for the plantings, receives a comprehensive training, which includes from cultivation practices and certification procedures to basic entrepreneurship tools. The women will have the opportunity to market the final products through the Wise Greece network and use the income to develop their business, effectively signing the first series of agricultural products from a photovoltaic park. Throughout the program the women are supported by an experienced team of agronomists and business advisors. At the same time, free seminars are held not only for women but for anyone living in the Prefecture of Kozani. A team of experienced trainers from the Wise Greece network is by their side and guides them in all their steps from the initial empowerment, to the creation of innovative products, marketing, sales, digital skills and exports. The ultimate goal is that after completing the courses, the trainees will have everything they need to create a sustainable business with their own agricultural products, contributing to changing the production model of Western Macedonia.
This particular initiative has so far trained more than 140 people from the local community (unemployed, young people, women, etc.) and until its completion at the end of 2022, this number is expected to be at least double. The women's group consists of 9 women from the local community, who receive all the material and advisory support (tools, plants, guidance in the field, consultant for the creation of a legal entity, accountant, etc.) in order after the 1 year that lasts program to have produced and commercialized the first series of products from the photovoltaic park land and to have acquired all the necessary knowledge to be able to continue their activity as new entrepreneurs either as a group or individually.
This specific initiative takes place in the Prefecture of Kozani in Western Macedonia. The photovoltaic park is located near Polymylos Kozani. The main goal of the company is for this initiative to be an important example of practical support for the local economy and to be implemented in other areas that operate renewable energy projects either by the company itself or by others.
The pioneering program "Vamvakies a Social Green Project" was designed by the company Enel Green Power and the non-profit movement Wise Greece in collaboration with the Cluster of Bioeconomy & Environment of Western Macedonia and the Municipality of Kozani exclusively for the Prefecture of Kozani!
The voluntary participation of both company employees and volunteers from the local community played an important role in carrying out this initiative.
The main benefit for the company is the strengthening of relations with the local community, proving in practice the support of the local economy and improving the quality of life of the residents. Equally important for the company is to make local communities realize that renewable energy projects can not only fit well into local life but can contribute to the creation of new production models, support the local economy, create new jobs and end to the long-term well-being of the local community.
