Greece’s Public Power Corporation (PPC) Group announced that construction of its 2.13 GW photovoltaic power plants in Northern Greece has reached 90% completion, marking a major milestone in Europe’s largest solar cluster.
Located across Western Macedonia, the renewable energy projects will collectively generate 3,150 GWh of electricity annually, enough to meet over 6% of Greece’s mainland consumption.
The development is part of PPC’s transformation of former lignite mining areas around Ptolemaida, Kardia, Agios Dimitrios, and Amyntaio into green energy hubs, a symbolic shift from coal to clean power.
Western Macedonia solar expansion
In the reclaimed sites of Ptolemaida, Kardia, and Agios Dimitrios, PPC is installing 1,190 MW of solar capacity, most of which is already operational. When fully online, these projects alone will generate around 1,800 GWh per year, supplying 450,000 households and offsetting 900,000 tonnes of CO₂.
In Amyntaio, a joint venture with Germany’s RWE is advancing another 940 MW of solar farms, capable of producing 1,350 GWh annually and covering 300,000 homes, while cutting 675,000 tonnes of CO₂.
Battery and storage investments
PPC’s green push includes two battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Ptolemaida and Meliti, with a combined capacity of 98 MW / 196 MWh, designed to stabilize supply by storing excess daytime energy for use after sunset.
The Group has pledged €940 million for additional 860 MW of energy storage projects in Western Macedonia, expected to create over 1,300 jobs during construction and several hundred permanent roles once operational.
Among them are two pumped-storage projects, dubbed “natural batteries,” located at Kardia and the South Field mine, offering 320 MW for 8 hours and 240 MW for 12 hours, respectively. PPC also plans 300 MW of battery units to complement the grid.
