The battle of Kythira

“The Battle of Kythira” is underway – a battle destined to go down in history and become a symbol that transcends the island’s borders. On one side, the energy industry; on the other, the people. But not only that: what’s at stake is the very model of development and prosperity, not only for Aphrodite’s Kythira, but for all of Greece.

The Facts:

Two months ago, the companies TERNA ENERGEIAKI A.E. (TERNA ENERGY) and VECTOR WIND PARKS HELLAS submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Energy the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) for the construction of three (3) wind farms (stations): 30 wind turbines 150 meters high, with blades 136 meters in diameter, for a total capacity of 135MW – the only proposal of such scale in Attica. And the worst part: it is planned almost entirely within a “Nature Protection Area.”

This is not an isolated case – many wind energy projects have been located in protected areas, which Greece has repeatedly failed to protect, even receiving condemnation from the EU Court for violating its obligations toward Natura 2000 areas. Europe no longer shows willingness to tolerate further violations.

Fortunately, the recent decision of the Council of State (556/2025) established that the Ministry cannot issue environmental permits for projects on which OFYPEKA has expressed a negative opinion.

On 28/8/2023, the EMP for all areas of the Regional Units of Northern, Western, Central, Southern Attica, Piraeus, Islands, Eastern and Western Attica was put to public consultation on the Ministry’s website. The consultation ended a year and a half ago, but has not yet been approved by the General Secretary of Environment and Water, so the EMP should have already been put into effect (and therefore has not yet been put into effect). However, this approval has been significantly delayed – and perhaps not by chance. Thus, today it appears that the involved companies are seeking to obtain environmental licensing (AEPO) before the EMP is approved, which would block the project.

The study proves that Kythira’s geographical position constitutes an extremely important “migratory bottleneck” on the eastern Mediterranean route of millions of birds to and from Africa. Furthermore, energy production from industrial wind farms is prohibited in the area under study and in all Natura 2000 areas of the island (i.e., throughout the entire island), because it is absolutely incompatible with environmental value and constitutes a serious danger.

The Hellenic Ornithological Society has since 2010 conducted a study that excludes Kythira from any wind turbine placement planning, recognizing the island as a highly sensitive migratory corridor. Thousands of birds, due to geographical position, are forced to pass through there – and the risk of collision with wind turbines would be enormous. The importance of the study has been recognized by the European Commission, which sent a letter of reprimand to the responsible Greek minister.

But the issue doesn’t only concern birds. What’s at stake is the socioeconomic future of the island, which today sees for the first time prospects for gentle development, based on the natural landscape, traditional communities, and the possibility of promoting tourism that is not mass-based but compatible with the environment, nature, and culture. A development that would be demolished by roads, concrete, monstrous and absurd constructions for an island like Kythira. Environmental, economic and social damage that, on one hand, violates European and national rules for protected areas, and on the other hand, is considered by the Kythiran people to be absurd and dangerous.

Despite the above, Kythira has become a target of successive applications for industrial wind farm licenses from Greek energy groups, with total capacity astronomically larger than the island’s needs (321 MW on an island that consumes only 4 MW/day!). From there began the resistance: of citizens, the Municipality, Dynamo Kythera (Citizens’ Movement of Kythira), all associations and committees that appealed to justice and protested. And they won many battles. Even UNESCO and the EU (EUROPA NOSTRA) recognized the danger to cultural heritage.

It is now common ground: renewable energy sources are necessary to address the global environmental crisis. And rightly, the EU supports them. However, industrial greed and economic speculation completely distort the spirit of this transition. Everyone knows that the solution lies in small-scale wind and photovoltaic energy – small installations, capable of making the country energy independent, exceeding local needs. In Kythira, for example, two small wind turbines and a few photovoltaics would suffice to exceed the energy limit of 4MW/day! And this is how it should be done everywhere: with respect for nature, animals, community life, and the much-troubled tourism sector.

But when politics gives priority to companies instead of the people, when capital is ready to undermine the place’s prosperity for its own benefit, then the common good is surrendered to the thirst for profit. A situation that is called by two words: cultural decline, in which the citizen is condemned to endure.

Besides Kythira, where within two weeks more than 2000 signatures were collected against industrial wind energy (d11kythira@gmail.com for those who want to send name, surname, patronymic, place of residence, until early July) and where the proud, radical and universal resistance to this insane plan is now becoming a symbol of struggle for all of Greece. And not only.

“The Battle of Kythira” is underway – a battle destined to go down in history and become a symbol that transcends the island’s borders. On one side, the energy industry; on the other, the people. But not only that: what’s at stake is the very model of development and prosperity, not only for Aphrodite’s Kythira, but for all of Greece.

*Author – Creator of Progetto Mediterranea

Source: Efsyn