## 4 Results and Discussion
### SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) Analysis  
Considering the challenges and prospects of the Greek LCBM deposits, a SWOT analysis was conducted to assess the contribution of LCBM exploitation towards Greek energy security, considering the social, economic, and environmental impact in the nexus of sustainable development. Therefore, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats related to LCBM exploitation in Greece were identified in the frame of innovative economy and sustainability (Table 3) [46]. With regard to the strengths of LCBM exploitation in Greece, it should be stated that the lignite in mined deposits in the Region of Western Macedonia amounts to 1.9 billion tons, which proves that the utilization of the methane derived from them is a clear advantage of the region. Specifically, in the Ptolemaida basin, there are eight lignite deposits and three of them are currently being exploited, showing the great potential in this area. Methane, which is a gas of high energy, constitutes a serious threat during mining activities; therefore, its safe extraction from lignite deposits lowers the level of risk of explosion or fire in active coal mines. In addition, methane extraction in active coal mines, which will be carried out on the basis of energy and environmental regulations as well as health and safety regulations, could prevent its flow out, as a potent greenhouse gas, to the atmosphere during mining operations. This course of action is expected to reduce the negative impact of mining on the environment and improve economic efficiency from the extraction and  
Figure 7: Percentage of the gases detected in each LCBM sample. industrial use of methane. In addition, LCBM is a cleaner fuel, with a significantly lower carbon footprint as compared with the coal-based power industry. The exploitation of LCBM ensures Greece's smoother transition to the forthcoming coal exit era, securing the energy autonomy of the country. Moreover, it helps preserve the already existing jobs that will disappear after lignite leaves the energy scene, especially in the Region of Western Macedonia (Greece), which suffers from high unemployment rates. In times when the renewable energy sources will not be able to meet the country's energy requirements, methane gas could act as a valuable supplementary energy source. Based on the above, the development of the LCBM market from lignite has many strengths, which should contribute to the country's energy autonomy. It is clear that the production of domestic fuels ensures the energy security of a country; for example, in times of war or turmoil the normal supply of natural gas from other countries is threatened and, in such cases, LCBM becomes a lifesaver. When a region produces its own fuel, the economic benefits it reaps are very large. The region can secure existing jobs, purchases smaller quantities of fuel from abroad, and protect social welfare as a result of that economic prosperity. The Idea of using LCBM gas in Greece was initially generated in order to improve safety during mining activities. However, the main weaknesses are that LCBM deposits in Greece have not been identified yet, LCBM technology is still an underdeveloped field in Greece, and there is no technological training on LCBM extraction process. Therefore, the inefficient organizational structures of mines and coal companies makes decision-making long and complicated, and in many cases, incomprehensible. This results in poor production flexibility and difficulties in adaptation to market demands. Another weakness of Greek coal mines is their low efficiency and productivity related to the limited use of their technical potential (i.e., equipment and machinery). Moreover, the locations of good coal deliverability or those with optimal gas content have not been identified yet, and the mapping deliverability should be the primary objective of a future analysis. These are significant disadvantages for the development of the LCBM exploitation industry in Greece.