PRESS RELEASE
24 December 2024
· Modernisation of the power plant in Monolithos, in Santorini, with the addition of reliable and flexible gas turbine units with a total capacity of 30MW
· More efficient operation, reduced emissions, lower noise level
· Four additional large-scale new power projects in the Greek Islands (Heraklion in Crete, Soroni in Rhodes, Chios, Lesvos) are underway by PPC Group
· Flexible power plants: ensuring energy adequacy, contributing to grid stability and flexibility, increased use of renewable energy sources
The commercial operation of two new gas turbine units has commenced at the PPC Group's power plant in Santorini, in the Monolithos area. With a total nominal capacity of 30MW and an efficiency rate of 33%, the new units will contribute to ensuring the island's energy adequacy in view of the summer peak season.
The two new, state-of-the-art gas turbine units, in combination with the two existing ones, will meet up to 50% of Santorini's energy needs during the summer months, when peak demand is recorded.
At the same time, the new gas turbine units are equipped with all modern systems for the reduction of air pollutants and particles emissions. The noise level, which does not exceed 65 db at the boundaries of the power plant, will be lower than that of the existing units, considerably reducing the environmental impact.
Four additional large-scale new power projects underway on Greek islands
Four additional projects on Greek islands are underway by the PPC Group for the next 12 months, with a total capacity of more than 300MW, aiming to modernize the power plants and ensure the energy sufficiency of the islands. Specifically, in Heraklion (Crete), Soroni (Rhodes), Chios, and Lesvos, existing units will be replaced with modern, gas turbine units, which shall fully comply with the requirements of both Greek and EU environmental legislation.
The new gas turbine units are expected to increase the generation capacity of power plants on the islands, thus fostering the energy independence of the regions, while their use will contribute to the reduction of the cost for Public Service Obligations (PSO). Moreover, due to the replacement of heavy fuel oil (HFO) by light fuel oil (LFO), and the lower noise level during their operation, the new gas turbine units will contribute to minimizing environmental impact.
New 1.8GW flexible power plants by 2027 - flexibility, adequacy, stability
As flexible, fast-responding power plants, the new gas turbine units will operate to support RES, which are characterized by stochasticity. In practice, they will provide security to the power generation system, reducing the risk of power outages.
According to the Strategic Plan for the three-year period 2025-2027, PPC Group plans to invest in flexible generation projects - including gas turbine units, pump hydro units, etc. - aiming to add 1.8GW of installed capacity by 2027.