Akuo Energy developing 1 GW agrisolar portfolio in Thessaly in Greece

French renewables company Akuo Energy made the first step towards its goal of installing agrisolar facilities in Thessaly in Greece with 1 GW in total capacity.

Akuo Energy has inaugurated its first solar park in the country following the 1 MW Halki (Chalki) island project back in October 2021. The facility comprises four photovoltaic units of 1 MW each. The estimated annual output is equivalent to the electricity needs of 350 local households, according to the company.

The electricity produced in the solar park will be sold directly in the energy market. Akuo has set a goal of commencing in the coming months the construction of PV plants with a total capacity of 500 MW. It said the projects in the portfolio are at an advanced stage.

Focus on floating PV and agrivoltaics

The inauguration of the new PV plant was accompanied by a memorandum of understanding with the regional authority and local agricultural organizations. They agreed to develop floating solar power plant projects and set up photovoltaics on irrigation canals. Both solutions reduce water evaporation.

Akuo said it would encourage the integration of renewable energy sources with the region’s sizeable agricultural activity. The facilities are planned to include energy storage.

The company vowed to inform communities about the benefits of such systems and engage in extensive dialogue about each project.

Activities in Serbia, North Macedonia and Croatia

Akuo Energy is active in other Balkan countries as well. The Government of North Macedonia has awarded a strategic investment status to its 400 MW solar power plant project in Štip. Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski recently said it would be a model for the development of agriculture.

The French group has received EUR 16 million from the Energy Transition Europe fund to refinance a 43 MW wind farm in Ogorje, Croatia.

Akuo is the partner in IEL OIE Balkan Renewable Energy’s 85 MW Bašaid wind farm project near Kikinda in Serbia. The company acquired five hydropower plants in Bulgaria with a total capacity of 15.5 MW two years ago.

The utility’s Chairman Eric Scotto urged Southeastern European countries last year to allow private power purchase agreements or PPAs, calling it a key solution for the energy crisis.