Press Release
April 3rd, 2025
PPC Group: €5.75 bn investments in green energy and technology transform Western Macedonia
· Plans for a new 300MW mega data center at the Agios Dimitrios Power Plant - Western Macedonia emerging as a technology hub – Phase 2: scalable up to α 1,000MW giga data center
· Multiple projects across the Western Macedonia region will create up to 20,000 new jobs during construction and up to 2,000 when in operation
· 2,130 MW in RES and 860 MW of energy storage – Western Macedonia becomes a green energy supplier for Greece.
· Ptolemaida 5 continues its operation and becomes an OCGT 350 MW natural gas unit – possibility for upgrade to a 500 MW CCGT.
· PPC remains a long-term driver of growth and prosperity for Western Macedonia and its people.
PPC Group presented its €5.75 bn strategic investment roadmap to convert former lignite sites in Western Macedonia into a green energy and technology hub for Greece and Southeastern Europe. The plan was unveiled during an event held at the former lignite-fired power plant in Kardia. PPC Group’s Chairman and CEO, Mr. Georgios Stassis, presented the strategic plan, and the Greek Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, delivered an address.
The plan includes a series of new projects that will generate up to 20,000 jobs during construction and an additional up to 2,000 new jobs during operation.
The Prime Minister, Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, stated: “I cannot describe in words how visionary and ambitious this plan is. It is a plan of global scope, not just on a European level. A plan that I am absolutely convinced that a company with the financial strength of PPC and with the support of the Greek state and with access to European financial tools, we can all implement together. ”
PPC Group Chairman and CEO, Mr. Georgios Stassis, stressed:
“PPC has always been, and will continue to be, deeply connected to Western Macedonia, a key driver of development and prosperity for the region and its people. Our vision is for the region to become a leading green energy and technology center for Greece and Southeastern Europe. Our investment plan will transform former lignite areas. The new era includes an installed capacity of over 3,000 MW of renewables, next-generation units that produce energy through conventional and alternative sources and 860 MW of storage capacity. This green energy will not only serve national needs but will be also able to power Greece’s largest data center and one of the biggest in Europe that will be built in the area once an agreement with hyperscalers is in place. This strategy serves as a catalyst for Western Macedonia to redefine itself through technology. PPC is a Powertech company– and its heart will beat in Western Macedonia.”
300 MW Mega Data Center
At the center of PPC Group’s investment plan is the construction of a new 300MW mega data center at the Agios Dimitrios power plant. PPC is ready to commence construction once agreements are in place with the hyperscalers who will operate it and could be ready by 2027. The facility will rank among the largest in Europe. The €2.3 billion investment will generate significant employment opportunities and spark new growth, as a wider tech ecosystem is expected to develop around it. The energy supply for the data center will be provided “behind the meter”, meaning its demand will not place additional load on the national grid.
In a second phase -provided that strong interest is confirmed from hyperscalers- the facility has the potential to scale up into a giga data center, reaching a capacity of up to 1,000 MW.
The former lignite areas in Western Macedonia are an ideal location for the development of large technology infrastructures, as they gather all the necessary elements for hosting large-scale data centers. PPC has its own land, with readily available industrial land, without licensing obstacles and strong energy infrastructures in the region. The diversified energy portfolio, with production from RES, natural gas, pumped storage, and batteries, ensures the reliable and green supply of energy. At the same time, the region has ample water resources, essential for cooling needs, experienced human resources with know-how in large projects, as well as strong high-voltage interconnections. PPC’s subsidiary, PPC FiberGrid, can ensure ultra-high-speed connectivity with domestic and international data networks, creating an integrated environment ready to support the development of hyperscale infrastructures.
Green Energy
The future of energy lies in renewables and Western Macedonia will play a pivotal role in PPC’s transition. For 70 years, the region supplied Greece with lignite-based energy. Today, it is shifting to clean, green energy through numerous RES projects.
PPC is investing €1.2 bn to develop photovoltaic parks on former mining sites, offering a combined installed capacity of 2,130 MW, enough to meet the energy needs of approximately 715,000 homes and businesses.
Another €940 mn will be allocated in energy storage projects reaching a total of 860 MW. These developments are expected to create over 1,300 jobs during construction and hundreds of positions during operation. Among them, there are two flagship projects that involve pumped hydro storage, using paired reservoirs at different elevations as natural energy storage systems:
§ Kardia Mine PHS Project: 320 MW of generation capacity for 8 hours, using the former mine as a lower reservoir. An investment of €430 mn.
§ South Field Mine PHS Project: the former mine will be used as a lower reservoir and when completed it will have a capacity of 240MW for 12 hours. An investment of €310 mn.
These projects will help balance the intermittency of renewables, allowing for more effective energy distribution throughout the day.
In addition, PPC is also investing in battery energy storage systems -BESS, of up to 300 MW installed capacity, in various locations around the area.
PPC, through the joint venture “Hellenic Hydrogen”, is also investing in the future of clean technologies with Greece’s first industrial-scale green hydrogen production unit in Amyntaio.
New energy plants
Under PPC’s strategic plan for Western Macedonia, Ptolemaida 5 will remain operational, initially transitioning into a 350MW open-cycle natural gas unit (OCGT) until the end of 2027. It will then be upgraded to a 500 MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT), once the investment decision for the Data Center is made.
At the now-closed Kardia Power Plant, existing generators from Units 3 and 4 will be converted into synchronous condensers, supporting the stability of the national ultra-high-voltage electricity transmission grid.
A new thermal waste-to-energy facility is also under consideration, subject to permitting conditions. The proposed unit would feature a 38MW generator providing both electricity and thermal energy, suitable for district heating. It would also include state-of-the-art emissions control systems in line with the latest environmental standards.
Land Restoration and Decommissioning
Around €400 million will be invested in land restoration and the decommissioning of buildings, facilities and equipment related to lignite-based power production that can no longer be repurposed. Historically, PPC held nearly 20,000 hectares of land in the area. Of that approximately 8,000 are now being gradually returned to the Greek State. PPC ensures that all areas are fully restored before return.