Greece’s Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, visited the Sunlight Group facilities in Xanthi, with a focus on future investments, technological development, and the strengthening of Greek industry. The minister received a detailed briefing on the group’s production activity — which exports 99% of its output to more than 115 countries — as well as on the research and development programs being carried out in Greece. Special emphasis was placed on the importance of regional investment, the creation of highly skilled jobs, and the opportunities offered by energy storage technology.
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Pierrakakis at Sunlight: A 90,000 sq.m. factory with 1,200 jobs
Sunlight’s industrial complex in Xanthi spans 90,000 square metres and operates eight automated production lines, with an annual production capacity of 9 GWh. The facility supports 1,200 jobs in the region, while the group continuously invests in the development of new technologies and the expansion of its production base.
The minister was welcomed by R&D Director Spyros Gorgogiannnis, Xanthi Plant General Manager Konstantinos Paspalas, and Corporate Affairs Director Angeliki Eleftheriou. Also present was Ioannis Karagiannis, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Olympia Group, who outlined the strategic commitment to continuing production and technology investments across the Greek regions.
Investments in research and energy storage
During the facility tour, the minister was shown Sunlight’s lithium-ion battery assembly lines and its accredited laboratories, where more than 200 specialised scientists are employed. This activity drives the development of high-level expertise within Greece and creates employment opportunities for highly qualified scientific personnel.
Kyriakos Pierrakakis was also briefed on the PowerESS HV commercial and industrial energy storage systems — technologies that enable businesses to store electricity when costs are lower and deploy it during periods of higher prices. At the same time, these systems help reduce peak demand, improve the utilisation of renewable energy sources, and contribute to grid stability.
Pierrakakis: “Sunlight is a Greek success story”
The Minister of National Economy and Finance highlighted the company’s international presence and its significance for Greek manufacturing. “Sunlight is a Greek success story with a global footprint. A company that started in Xanthi and managed to become a leading player in one of the world’s most competitive markets, by investing in innovation, technology, and outward-looking growth. This is the Greece we want to build — a Greece that creates high-value jobs, generates expertise, and proves that the Greek regions can stand at the forefront of the global economy.”
Karagiannis: Greece can produce innovation with global reach
For his part, Ioannis Karagiannis, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Olympia Group, underscored the importance of Greece’s production base to Sunlight’s international expansion.
“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Kyriakos Pierrakakis to the Sunlight factory in Xanthi — where Greek manufacturing meets the global market. Through steady investment in Greece, expertise, and trust in our people, Sunlight has evolved into an international industrial force in energy storage. With exports accounting for 99% of its Greek production, a presence in 115 countries, and ten factories across Europe and the Americas, Sunlight proves that our country can serve as a base for production and innovation with global reach. For us at the Olympia Group, this is the very essence of investment — building strong businesses that create value at home, compete internationally, and reinforce the role of Greece and Europe in the economy’s strategic sectors.” The visit concluded with a discussion on future investments, the outlook for energy storage, and the role of technology in the development of Greek industry.
