Dimitris Balios, Researcher, NKUA:
“Science, Technology, Environment, Migration:
Urban sustainability”
17.12. 2019
NKUA /

In the framework of RISK CHANGE lectures in which the importance of small RES installations was presented as a way of restricting environmental disasters that provoke migration, the Dimitris Ballios’ presentation on Tuesday, 17/12/2019, focused on the installation of small RES in the urban environment. The main scope was to explore the technical and social potential of energy transition in a densely populated urban municipality of Athens. Energy transition is needed as an attempt to limit or even minimize the effects of the current environmental degradation happening globally. The ultimate goal is achieving full energy autonomy in the urban context.

The critical approach to technology and the analysis of the technical potentials of a technology such as photovoltaics is used in order to explore alternatives at a social, environmental and economic level. By focusing on the use of technology in the context of social rather than financial benefit, the research conducted by the presenter showed that it is still possible to achieve a total production of energy much bigger than the typical household energy needs. This could be done by taking advantage of the free space of the apartments-buildings terraces.

In this lecture Mr. Balios presented the methodological steps through which the maximum possible result for the goal set could be reached. To do so we need to analyse and work on the transactions between technology, society and the environment.

Finally, the needed means and social processes for such a transition were discussed. From the discussion it was made clear that social and local demand and particularities should be always be taken into consideration. The results on several levels and stakeholders are more than interesting. The re-signification of technology and energy by such a process were discussed deeply. For instance, the production core is transferred from the big plant in the countryside to the terrace of the house of the user. In this way the user-consumer is modified to a producer.

Find more (including pictures) at: 
http://riskchange.phs.uoa.gr/past-events/lectures.html