PPC Group presented its EUR 5.75 bn strategic investment roadmap to convert former lignite sites in Western Macedonia into a green energy and technology hub for Greece and Southeastern Europe.
At the center of Group’s investment plan is the construction of a new 300MWmega data center at the Agios Dimitrios power plant. PPC is ready to commence construction once agreements are in place with the hyperscalers who will operate it and could be ready by 2027.
In a second phase -provided that strong interest is confirmed from hyperscalers- the facility has the potential to scale up into a giga data center, reaching a capacity of up to 1,000 MW.
PPC is investing EUR 1.2 bn to develop photovoltaic parks on former mining sites, offering a combined installed capacity of 2,130 MW, enough to meet the energy needs of approximately 715,000 homes and businesses.
Another EUR 940 mn will be allocated in energy storage projects reaching a total of 860 MW. Among them, there are two flagship projects that involve pumped hydro storage, using paired reservoirs at different elevations as natural energy storage systems:
- Kardia Mine PHS Project: 320 MW of generation capacity for 8 hours, using the former mine as a lower reservoir. An investment of EUR 430 mn.
- South Field Mine PHS Project: the former mine will be used as a lower reservoir and when completed it will have a capacity of 240MW for 12 hours. An investment of EUR 310 mn.
In addition, PPC is also investing in battery energy storage systems -BESS, of up to 300 MW installed capacity, in various locations around the area, and through the joint venture ”Hellenic Hydrogen”, is also investing in Greece’s first industrial-scale green hydrogen production unit in Amyntaio.
New energy plants
Ptolemaida 5 will remain operational, initially transitioning into a 350MW open-cycle natural gas unit (OCGT) until the end of 2027. It will then be upgraded to a 500 MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT), once the investment decision for the Data Center is made.
At the now-closed Kardia Power Plant, existing generators from Units 3 and 4 will be converted into synchronous condensers, supporting the stability of the national ultra-high-voltage electricity transmission grid.
A new thermal waste-to-energy facility is also under consideration, subject to permitting conditions. The proposed unit would feature a 38MW generator providing both electricity and thermal energy, suitable for district heating.
Land restoration
Around EUR 400 million will be invested in land restoration and the decommissioning of buildings, facilities and equipment related to lignite-based power production that can no longer be repurposed.
Historically, PPC held nearly 20,000 hectares of land in the area. Of that approximately 8,000 are now being gradually returned to the Greek State.
