ELPE: The new photovoltaic inaugurates the green transition of the group

By Harry Floudopoulos

The new era of transformation and the green transition of the ELPE group symbolizes the new photovoltaic park of 204MW, the largest in Greece and one of the largest in Europe, which was recently inaugurated. Besides, the medium-term goal for the Hellenic Petroleum group is the development of RES projects with a capacity of 1GW by 2026 and over 2GW by 2030. It is noted that the Hellenic Petroleum group currently has a portfolio of projects in development that exceeds 2 GW, of which 675MW are in an advanced stage of development.

“This project reflects in practice our determination and commitment to respond, in a meaningful way, to a new era of challenges. We aim at a more integrated Group for the production and marketing of all modern forms of energy, which will lead the way in developments, strengthening the development course of the country. “Our successful core business” said during his speech at the inauguration of the photovoltaic park the CEO of Hellenic Petroleum A. Siamisis. and markets , with this new strategy. As he told the Hellenic Petroleum group, with the axis of the strategic plan “Vision 2025” one of the largest investment programs in Greece is being implemented, aiming at a drastic reduction of the environmental footprint by 50% by 2030, aiming at the essential contribution to tackling the climate crisis. .

“The project symbolizes the green transition inside and outside the borders. It is the largest photovoltaic park in Southeast Europe, one of the largest in Europe as a whole. Greece will become a leader in the field of renewable energy sources. It will adopt new innovative technologies,” he said. Prime Minister K. Mitsotakis, who attended the inauguration ceremony of the great project of Hellenic Petroleum.

The play

The construction of the park, which is the largest in Europe with 509 thousand double-sided photovoltaic panels (bifacial modules) and has the latest generation automation system for monitoring and production control (Energy Management System), was completed on schedule, despite the difficulties caused. from the pandemic.

It is the largest RES project to date in Greece and the wider region of the SE Mediterranean, but also one of the largest parks with photovoltaics in Europe with a total installed capacity of 204.3 MW. It is estimated that it will produce 350 GWh of energy per year, while it will cover the needs of 75,000 households with zero emission energy. The total investment amounted to € 130 million, with a significant benefit for the national economy, but also the region of W. Macedonia, as it created over 350 jobs during construction, while it will maintain dozens of direct and indirect jobs during the duration of operation, most of which will be covered by the local community.

The main contractor of the project was the company JUWI, while the monitoring of the construction was undertaken by the company ASPROFOS, a subsidiary of the ELPE Group, which follows the strategic shift of the Group, developing know-how in this new market. The park covers 3.5 thousand acres and consists of 18 individual projects and having an average cost of energy produced at 57.7 euros / MWh is expected to significantly contribute to reducing energy costs for the country’s electricity system.

As noted by the general manager of strategic planning and new activities of the ELPE group G. Alexopoulos “in a very short period of time ELPE acquired an installed capacity of 300 MW of RES and have set as a medium-term goal 1GW by the end of 2026 and the development of a diversified strong project portfolio, over 2 GW in operation until 2030 ”.

Present at the inauguration ceremony were, among many guests, the Minister of Environment and Energy Mr. Costas Skrekas, the Deputy Minister of Development and Investment Mr. Nikos Papathanasis, Undersecretaries, Deputy Ministers, Secretaries General and Senior Deputies the Metropolitans of Serbia & Kozani and Florina, Prespa & Eordaia, Members of Parliament of the Prefecture of Kozani, the Regional Governor of Western Macedonia as head of delegation, the Mayors of the region, representatives of Institutions, representatives of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Hellenic-German Chamber, high-ranking members of the Management of the ELPE Group and its subsidiaries, as well as representatives of the Media.