The Venue

Greece and hydropower

As Greece continues its journey in the energy transition, PPC (the Public Power Corporation, which is the country’s largest electric power company) has underlined its strong commitment to more renewable energy development, including the planning of new hydro schemes, the addition of pumped-storage at existing hydro plants, exploitation of the synergy between various renewable energy sources, and acceleration of multipurpose schemes which had been suspended. Completion of the Messochora project is to resume, the 680 MW Amfilochia pumped-storage scheme is underway by a private developer (with more pumped storage planned), and the Metsovitikos hydro scheme is expected to start operating by the end of 2025.

The 156 MW Amari hybrid (wind and pumped-storage) scheme is under construction on the island of Crete; and meanwhile two large hydro projects, Sykia (12.5 MW) and Pefkophyto (160 MW) are under redesign, following a postponement. They are part of a scheme aimed at partial diversion of the Acheloos river to Thessaly.

The first development of hydro coincided with the establishment of PPC in 1950, and today Greece has 16 large hydro plants in operation, four cascade developments and two independent plants. Together they have an installed capacity of 3171 MW, and produce around 3800 GWh/year. There is also 699 MW of pure pumped storage, generating around 275 GWh/year, and there are more than 140 small hydro schemes contributing a further 300 MW.

Today PPC is prioritizing the implementation of more hydro and pumped storage to maximize available dispatchable clean energy.

Pumped-storage is planned to be added at the Pournari and Kastraki plants, and elsewhere in the country it is intended to repurpose disused lignite mines for pumped storage.

Following our very successful HYDRO 2006 conference in Porto Carras, Aqua~Media is delighted to be returning to Greece next year, and the global hydropower community will have an opportunity to learn about Greece’s ‘new wave’ of hydro and pumped-storage development, and to visit some of the schemes on post-conference tours, as well as experience warm Greek hospitality.

The Greek economy

In its recently published ‘2024 In-depth Review of Greece’ the European Commission reports that: “net external borrowing is set to decline faster than the current account deficit, thanks to the increase in EU capital transfers, including the recovery and resilience fund grants. External borrowing is expected to decline to close to 3 per cent of GDP by 2025. Past and ongoing measures to improve the business environment and reduce legal and regulatory uncertainties, accompanied by Greece regaining its sovereign investment grade status, are expected to have a positive impact on FDI inflows.

Thessaloniki as host city

Thessaloniki is Greece’s second largest city, and is easily accessible from numerous European cities, including the main hubs for international travel from other continents. It combines all the best features of a modern and elegant European city, with a thriving economic and commercial centre, museums and galleries, as well as fine examples of Byzantine architecture, historic relics from different eras, monuments, galleries, and a World Heritage Site in the centre.

National Geographic Magazine has included the city in its top tourist destinations worldwide, and the Financial Times has declared it as the ‘best mid-sized European city of the future for human capital and lifestyle’. The spacious Helexpo Conference and Exhibition Centre will be an ideal venue for the conference; there are world class hotels in all categories nearby.