PPC Renewables preparing 500 MW solar power project to replace coal

Chief Executive Officer of PPC Renewables Konstantinos Mavros said the company would announce a single 500 MW solar power project within six months. The site is in Ptolemaida, one of Greece’s coal hubs in the north.

The green energy subsidiary of the state-owned Public Power Corp. (PPC) of Greece has one of the biggest photovoltaic projects in Europe in the pipeline. CEO of PPC Renewables Konstantinos Mavros said the solar power plant in Ptolemaida in the region of Western Macedonia would have a capacity of 500 MW and three substations.

The area is home to the country’s biggest lignite mines and power plants. The government has an ambitious plan to phase out coal entirely by 2025.

Ptolemaida is site of Greece’s last coal-fired power plant

Greece’s last lignite plant, Ptolemaida 5, is under construction. PPC is supposed to switch it to gas in four years and mark the end of lignite use in the Balkan country.

However, the latest power price hikes all over Europe prompted suggestions that coal plants in Greece should be kept active or at least in reserve until the capacity can be substituted with renewables. Analysts attributed the surge to scorching heat, gas shortage, weak winds and high costs for emissions of carbon dioxide.

PPC Renewables is PPC’s subsidiary tasked with the energy transition to renewable sources

PPC Renewables must proceed with the transition from fossil fuels to energy from renewable sources as it is tasked with reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Mavros insisted. He noted that by the end of 2022, the company plans to announce projects over 1 GW in total, more than what was planned. They are located in Western Macedonia and correspond to investments of 250 million euros, according to the CEO.

The company also has producer certificates for 500 MW in batteries and projects for floating solar power plants. It is working on offshore wind power as well, in anticipation of a new legal framework. PPC Renewables has a portfolio of 7 GW under development, according to local media.

PPC Renewables ready to build 65 MW solar power plant in Western Macedonia

Separately, the renewable energy firm is looking for a contractor for a 65 MW solar power plant in the Kozani area in Western Macedonia. The tender is for a study, civil engineering projects, supply, transportation, installation, grid connection and operation of the unit in Agios Christoforos in the municipality of Eordea.

Terna is building a 200 MW photovoltaic unit near Kozani for PPC Renewables

The budget is EUR 32.1 million excluding value-added tax, of which EUR 370,000 is for unforeseen needs. The deadline is September 30.

The company is already building a 200 MW system near Kozani. Terna, the same contractor, won the bid for a 50 MW solar park in Megalopolis, in the Peloponnese.

The company is making deals with numerous domestic and foreign partners on joint projects and the private sector has dozens of gigawatts of solar in the pipeline.