In the wake of the closure of the coal-fired power plants in western Macedonia and in Megalopoli in the Peloponnese, as they adapt to the post-lignite era, diverse development model is being planned.
This development model is ranging from advanced technology in electricity production and e-mobility, to cutting-edge industrial and agricultural units and new forms of tourism.
Major Greek and foreign enterprises are anticipating new legislation from the Government outlining growth incentives, before proceeding with 16 investment plans worth a total of 4 billion euros that are expected to bring multiple benefits to the local communities.
For example, the Sunlight company of the Olympia group is ready to install a unit in western Macedonia to produce lithium batteries for electric vehicles, investing 200 million euros by 2026. Wonderplant is planning the construction of a unit for the hydroponic cultivation of tomatoes, expected to operate as of 2024. This investment, which will come with a unit for the joint production of electricity and heating, will come to 100 million euros.
In the sector of electricity production from renewable energy sources, besides the known plans of Public Power Corporation (PPC) and Hellenic Petroleum (ELPE) for the construction of photovoltaic parks of 2.3 GW with the investment of 1.4-1.6 billion euros, there are two more investment projects using state-of-the-art technology in the works.
The first is being planned by Greek firm Eunice and concerns the creation of Greeceās first project for the storage of energy in utility-scale lithium batteries, budgeted at 285 million euros, while the second comes from Polish enterprise Solaris and concerns the creation of a green hydrogen unit, a project involving three more countries besides Greece, with an investment of 2.5 billion euros.