Old Greek Coal Mine Turns Into Near-Gigawatt Solar Complex

RWE and PPC have switched on 930 MWp of photovoltaic capacity on the site of a former Greek lignite mine, with two more solar farms due in 2027.

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A stretch of land in Western Macedonia that used to be one of Greece's biggest coal-mining operations now hosts a sprawling solar complex. RWE and the country's Public Power Corporation (PPC) have wrapped up the ninth and final photovoltaic plant across three large clusters, adding up to 930 MWp, equivalent to 884 MWac, of generating capacity within the footprint of the decommissioned Amynteo mine.

According to the developers, the combined output should be enough to cover the yearly electricity needs of upwards of 400,000 homes in Greece. The construction and commissioning fell to Meton Energy S.A., a partnership majority-owned by RWE at 51 percent, with the remaining 49 percent held by PPC. Financial support came in part from Greece 2.0, the nation's EU-financed recovery programme.

Sopna Sury, who leads RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, tied the milestone to the company's ambitions in the country. "With nearly one gigawatt of solar capacity now in operation and two additional large-scale projects under construction, we are underlining our long-term commitment to Greece's energy transition," she said.

For PPC, the achievement fits a broader roadmap. Konstantinos Mavros, Deputy CEO of RES PPC Group, pointed to the utility's goal of building out 19 GW of renewable capacity before 2030 closes, coupled with a drive into storage and a rebranding of the firm as a so-called "Powertech Group." That target rests on a €24 billion spending plan touching renewables, storage, flexible power and data-centre facilities. PPC currently operates 12.4 GW of thermal, hydro and renewable assets, producing roughly 22 TWh a year across Greece, Romania and North Macedonia.

Charilaos Mitrelias, chief executive of both RWE Renewables Hellas and Meton Energy, framed the work as evidence that Western Macedonia is steadily shifting away from its lignite past toward a future built on clean power.

The two companies are not finished. In the adjacent region of Central Macedonia, they are erecting two more solar sites named Kotyli and Neo Syrakio. Once operational, expected during 2027, the pair will contribute a further 567 MWp, or 518 MWac. The developers estimate that this extra output will serve the annual consumption of more than 240,000 additional households.