The unveiling of Greece’s biggest electrical company PPC’s strategic plan for Western Macedonia’s transition from coal to the digital age was made last Thursday by the Group’s Chairman and CEO, Mr. Giorgos Stassis. The goal is to transform this former lignite region into a “green” energy and technology hub. The €5.75 billion investment plan – which could reach €12 billion under certain conditions – will unfold over a three-to-five-year horizon and fund dozens of different projects, ranging from renewable energy and storage to hydrogen production, land restoration, energy and fiber optic networks, and data centers.

According to Mr. Stassis, who spoke at an event held at the former lignite-fired Kardía Power Plant in the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and other officials, “The new era of clean energy production in Western Macedonia includes more than 3,000 MW of installed capacity from renewables, new modern units for conventional and alternative generation, and 860 MW of storage. This green energy will not only cover national needs but could also power the largest data center in Greece – and one of the largest in Europe – to be created in the region, once a relevant agreement is reached with hyperscalers for its use.”

The Mega Data Center
This plan is set to act as a catalyst for Western Macedonia to reinvent itself through technology. “PPC is now Powertech, and its heart will beat in Western Macedonia,” Mr. Stassis emphasized.

Initially, a 300 MW Mega Data Center will be developed at the Agios Dimitrios Power Plant, expected to be operational by 2027. The Group is already in talks with hyperscalers who have shown interest. The project will move forward once a binding agreement is signed. This is an initial investment of €2.3 billion, with the potential to expand to a Giga Data Center of 1,000 MW, provided there is strong demand. The expansion would require an additional €5.4 billion investment, along with another €1.2 billion in energy units located at the Ptolemaida 5 and Agios Dimitrios sites.

Western Macedonia’s former lignite areas offer an ideal location for the development of large-scale technology infrastructure. PPC already holds readily available industrial land in the area, with no licensing barriers and robust energy infrastructure. Its diversified energy portfolio – including renewables, natural gas, pumped hydro, and battery storage – ensures reliable and green energy supply. Additionally, PPC’s subsidiary, FiberGrid, can provide ultra-high-speed connectivity to domestic and international data networks.

At the same time, PPC’s plan for Western Macedonia includes €1.2 billion in investments for solar PV development on former mining lands. In total, 2,130 MW of solar systems are being built, enough to power 715,000 homes and businesses. Among them is the standout “Phoebe” project, a 550 MW plant near Pontokomi, and the “Amyntaio” PV complex, with 940 MW of capacity, being built across the municipalities of Amyntaio and Eordaia in partnership with German company RWE.

Storage
PPC will also invest €940 million in energy storage projects with a total capacity of 860 MW. These include two pumped hydro systems that will utilize the natural elevation differences in inactive lignite mines. Specifically, the pit bottoms of the former Kardía and South Field mines will be used as lower reservoirs. The Kardía project, worth €430 million, will have a generation capacity of 320 MW for eight hours, while the South Field project, budgeted at €310 million, will generate 240 MW for 12 hours.

In addition to pumped hydro storage, PPC is also investing in batteries in the region. A total of 300 MW in battery storage systems are being built or planned in various locations. Furthermore, through the Hellenic Hydrogen joint venture (51% Motor Oil – 49% PPC), the Group is investing in the first industrial-scale green hydrogen production unit in Amyntaio.

Land Restoration
Regarding the restoration of lignite lands and the decommissioning of buildings, facilities, and production units related to coal-fired power generation, approximately €400 million will be invested. PPC owned about 200,000 hectares in the area, of which nearly 80,000 hectares are being progressively restored and returned to the state.

Overall, PPC’s numerous projects in Western Macedonia are expected to create up to 20,000 jobs during construction and around 2,000 permanent positions once fully operational. The investment plan is seen as a catalyst for the region’s economic and social transformation.

Ptolemaida 5 to Use Natural Gas
The new lignite-fired unit “Ptolemaida 5,” which currently operates at less than half capacity, will cease burning lignite in 2026. By the end of 2027, it will be converted into a 350 MW open cycle gas turbine (OCGT) plant – a project estimated at around €400 million. If the investment decision for the Data Center moves ahead, the plant will be upgraded to a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) unit with a total capacity of approximately 500 MW.

As for the Kardía plant, the old generators from Units 3 and 4 will be converted into synchronous condensers to stabilize the high-voltage grid. Also under consideration, depending on licensing, is a new thermal treatment plant for waste-derived energy feedstock to be built on the lignite yard of Ptolemaida 5.

The proposed Waste2Energy unit, with a €300 million budget, will have a capacity of around 38 MW. In addition to electricity, it will provide thermal energy for district heating in Western Macedonia and will incorporate state-of-the-art pollution control technologies.