Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited an 80 million euro energy plant under construction by Public Power Corporation in Ptolemaida on Thursday.
The high-efficiency combined heat and power facility is located at the former Kardia Steam Electric Station in Western Macedonia and will cover district heating needs across Kozani, Eordaia, and Amyntaio at competitive costs.
The project is funded entirely by Public Power Corporation, also known as PPC, and is scheduled to begin gradual operations by the end of 2026 to ensure the sustainability of municipal district heating companies during the region's transition away from coal.
Public Power Corporation is Greece's dominant electric utility company. Combined heat and power systems generate electricity and useful thermal energy simultaneously, capturing heat that would otherwise be wasted to supply local heating networks.
Western Macedonia, located in northern Greece, has historically served as the country's industrial center for lignite mining and coal-fired power generation, but is now undergoing a major structural shift toward clean energy infrastructure.
Multi-Technology Energy Hub at Kardia Site
During the site tour, PPC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Georgios Stassis guided Mitsotakis through the construction zone and outlined additional energy investments planned for the former Kardia power station. The site is being transformed into a multi-technology energy hub featuring a 350-megawatt pumped storage unit, a 50-megawatt battery energy storage system, electric boilers, and synchronous condensers designed to ensure electrical grid stability.
Stassis explained that the 350-megawatt pumped storage facility will utilize two large reservoirs, with an upper lake holding 5 million cubic meters of water and a lower lake situated inside the former open-pit lignite mine. Pumped storage systems act as large-scale energy storage by pumping water uphill when electricity demand is low and releasing it through turbines to generate electricity during peak demand periods.
Stassis described the installation as a vital national asset that will function as a massive water battery to support grid security across Greece.
The Prime Minister was accompanied on the tour by Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou, Alternate Minister of National Economy and Finance Nikos Papathanasis, and Deputy Minister of Interior for Macedonia-Thrace Kostas Gioulekas. Regional officials in attendance included Kozani Members of Parliament Stathis Konstantinidis and Michalis Papadopoulos, along with Governor of Western Macedonia Giorgos Amanatidis.
Government Position on Regional Energy Transition
Speaking after the tour, Mitsotakis said the progress at the Kardia site refutes claims that Public Power Corporation is abandoning Western Macedonia. He stated that the new combined heat and power unit will meet regional heating demands in a stable and predictable manner.
Mitsotakis added that PPC remains committed to Western Macedonia by investing in a diversified generation model combining renewable energy sources, pumped storage, and natural gas. He commended the Ministry of Environment and PPC leadership, noting that the utility has transformed into a national champion capable of expanding its operations beyond Greek borders.
The Prime Minister emphasized that a healthy and profitable power company allows PPC to support society and the economy with competitive electricity prices. He noted that maintaining affordable power costs is a core priority for the government as it works to address broader inflation and cost of living challenges across the country.
Operational Timeline and Local Employment Outlook
Stassis reported that the combined heat and power unit will be completed in the coming months, with phased operations beginning in October and continuing through December. He noted that the historic Kardia plant site now serves as the central hub for multiple advanced green energy technologies being deployed by PPC.
Stassis confirmed that the 50-megawatt battery storage units have already been installed behind the main site. Synchronous condensers will be installed inside the former Kardia station building to maintain grid balance, creating a unique combination of environmentally friendly technologies tailored to regional needs.
Synchronous condensers are rotating electrical devices that regulate grid voltage and frequency without generating active power, helping stabilize electricity networks as variable renewable energy sources are integrated.
Mitsotakis expressed confidence that overall employment in Western Macedonia will show a positive net balance within a few years. He stated that ongoing investments by PPC will generate significantly more high-paying jobs in clean energy production than were lost during the phaseout of lignite mining.
