Sustainability with realism: DEPA’s energy transition strategy

Sustainability in the energy sector is neither a theoretical debate nor a corporate image exercise. It is a difficult balancing act between the need for cleaner energy, security of supply, and the resilience of economies and societies. For DEPA Commercial, sustainable development sits at the very core of its strategic transformation.
Systematically investing in a multidimensional energy model, the company is combining renewable energy sources, storage, renewable fuels, and modern high-efficiency thermal units. The goal is not simply to reduce its carbon footprint, but to build an energy system that is more flexible, more secure, and more resilient to the constant shifts of the market.
In renewables, DEPA is developing one of the largest solar photovoltaic portfolios in Greece, with a total planned capacity exceeding 1 GW. Large-scale projects are already underway in Western Macedonia and Thessaly, including a 400 MW solar complex in Kozani and an additional 100 MW of projects in the Larissa and Farsala region. These developments go beyond clean energy generation — they are directly linked to the transition of lignite-dependent regions toward a new productive model, the creation of local added value, and the strengthening of the country’s energy independence.
At the same time, DEPA is actively investing in renewable fuels, with a particular focus on biomethane and green hydrogen. In partnership with Chitas Farm, the company has delivered the first bio-CNG production in Greece, which will supply the nationwide FISIKON service station network with low-carbon fuel. Meanwhile, through the GREENH2ORN programme, DEPA is participating in the development of green hydrogen infrastructure in Western Macedonia, producing hydrogen from an electrolyser powered by energy generated from the company’s own solar parks.
Nevertheless, the energy transition cannot rely on renewables alone. As their penetration increases, so does the need for stability, flexibility, and grid balancing. In this context, new natural gas thermal units remain critical. DEPA is a stakeholder in the new 792 MW combined-cycle unit in Larissa — one of the most efficient plants in Europe, with a thermal efficiency of 62.6% and an investment of approximately €600 million. The company also participates in the 840 MW unit in Alexandroupolis and the 174 MW unit in Fier, Albania, building a total thermal portfolio that will exceed 1 GW.
These units do not represent a step backward. On the contrary, they serve as a critical support mechanism for the transition. They are designed to operate in a complementary role alongside renewables, ensure adequate power capacity, and be capable of supporting renewable gases — such as hydrogen — in the future.
For DEPA, sustainability is not a one-dimensional choice. It is the ability to combine the green transition with energy security, technological innovation with social responsibility, and long-term vision with the real needs of the economy. And that is precisely what the company is working to build: an energy ecosystem that is both cleaner and more resilient — for Greece and the wider region.