Environmental nuisance in an urban environment is a major issue, with serious implications for citizens’ health. Exposure to air pollution, especially in the micro-environment of roads, is related to cardiopulmonary diseases, increased carcinogenic risk and neurodevelopmental disorders. Also, an important parameter is noise (road and non-road), which apart from the nuisance and mental burden, is associated with causing cardiovascular diseases. The above phenomena may be more pronounced in large urban centres on a continuous basis, but also in the island regions there is an environmental burden due to the arrival of a large number of tourists in a short period of time.In view of the above, the ELECTRON project proposes the creation of a laboratory of excellence, which using the tools that will develop in it will be possible to implement smart solutions to limit the environmental impact, mainly from transport, to island regions. It will also study and propose smart solutions to save energy both from the way it is used and through the production of energy from renewable energy, with emphasis on solar energy.The laboratory consists of its natural headquarters in the South Aegean Development Company in Rhodes, as an extension of the branch of the National Centre for Research and Technological Development (EKETA)/Institute for Sustainable Development and Transport Networks (I.MET.). At the level of measuring units, three new portable units of measurement of environmental and meteorological parameters and noise will be installed for closed and open space. Three purely electric vehicles will be supplied for use in pilot tests involving the use of vehicles by utilities and local operators. The laboratory will also be equipped with a small solar power plant (capacity 3KW), which will be placed on the floors of the building that hosts the laboratory and two chargers of electric vehicles with two charging outputs each of 25KW, so that semi-speed charging is possible.Electron will not only be content to supply equipment, but plans to produce its own tools, which will be available for use to local operators. These include a. library of information on optimal electric and energy saving solutions and b. Digital tool for the initial design of scenarios to improve the existing situation and calculate new energy needs by applying electrification. The implementation of new “smart” solutions, such as electrification, will contribute significantly to the growth of the island economy by creating new permanent jobs aimed at sustainable development. In addition, significant medium-term benefits will result from the upgrading of the tourism product offered, through the modernisation of means of transport and the protection of the urban environment.
