PPC begins construction of 165 MW solar farm with BESS in Bulgaria

PPC Group is accelerating its expansion in the Balkans by laying the foundation stone for its Colosseum solar power project in Bulgaria. The facility will have 165 MW in peak capacity and include a battery energy storage system (BESS), the Greek state-controlled utility revealed. The company’s investment plan includes Italy, where it recently commissioned the first two solar parks.

Public Power Corp. – PPC Group said it commenced the construction of a photovoltaic plant in Stara Zagora in central Bulgaria. The project involves 260,000 bifacial solar panels with an expected annual power generation of more than 265 GWh. It is one of the biggest investments abroad for Greece’s government-controlled utility, which is expanding in Southeastern Europe and beyond.

The Colosseum solar park will have 165 MW in peak capacity and include a BESS facility of 25 MW in operating power and a capacity of 55 MWh. The liquid-cooled lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries will support the operation of the photovoltaic plant and contribute to the stability of the electricity system, the company added.

A 33/110 kV substation will be built on the site, the announcement reads. The solar power plant’s estimated output is equivalent to the electricity needs of more than 45,000 Bulgarian households.

PPC has 550 MW in project pipeline in Bulgaria

PPC Group runs an 18 MW wind farm called Garda in the country and has another 550 MW in its renewables project pipeline. The company’s overall online green energy capacity is 5.5 GW.

According to its three-year strategic plan, by 2027, PPC Group will develop another 6.3 GW of renewables in Greece and the region. It revealed that more than 60% is under construction or ready for construction.

First PV units from strategic deal with Metlen in Italy came online in December

In December, PPC Group said it launched the operation of photovoltaic plants Carcarello and Luxenia, its first two facilities in Italy. They have 20 MW and 12 MW, respectively, in peak capacity. It translates to over 60 GWh of electricity per year in total from the two solar power units in central Italy.

The production can meet the demand of almost 15,000 households. The contractor for Carcarello and Luxenia was Metlen, formerly known as Mytilineos. The projects are part of a region-wide strategic agreement for photovoltaics, for 2 GW. Another 160 MW of PV capacity is under construction in the country.

Greek state-controlled power utility is largest renewables producer in Romania

PPC Group is the largest renewable energy producer in Romania, operating 25 wind, photovoltaic and hydroelectric facilities as well as battery storage units.

Its subsidiary Reţele Electrice România invested EUR 240 million last year in the expansion and modernization of its electricity distribution network. The firm plans to increase the number of smart meters in the three regions that it serves to two million by the end of 2025.

Gas-hydrogen CHP plant in Kardia to be completed by end-2026

As for its home market, the Greek utility said in January that it started the construction of a high-efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) plant. The future gas facility of 17 units is within the site of the former Kardia coal-fired power plant in the Western Macedonia province.

The company expects to complete the EUR 80 million cogeneration investment by the end of next year. According to earlier updates, the facility will have 105.3 MW in power capacity and 66.5 MW for thermal energy.

The project envisages the use of a mixture of fossil gas and hydrogen. The group is building another gas plant in Alexandroupolis.