In areas of Macedonia and Thrace, where local residents are more familiar with the direct use of geothermal energy, the Ministry of Environment and Energy will try to direct investment interest in the development of geothermal deposits in anticipation of the outcome of the PPC Renewables bet. in the Lesvos, Milos Kimolos-Polaigos and Nisyros geothermal fields in the island complex, which are the largest in the country but are still overshadowed by 40 years of misguided exploitation by the parent company.

It is expected that during the next period the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will announce tenders for the exploration and exploitation of geothermal deposits in four regions of Northern Greece. These are the Nestos Delta (Chrysoupolis – Eratinou, Keramotis and Kavala Bay), the Evros Delta between Alexandroupolis and the Evros River, including the Aristinou – Alexandroupolis area, the central and southern part of the Strymon basin and the Acropotamos area in Kavala. The ministry is reportedly considering whether the Sperchios site, which is said to be of investment interest, is ready to be included in the tender. The same sites were put up for auction in 2011, which, despite the allocation of preferred investors, did not lead to the signing of contracts, in connection with claims that went beyond the scope of their subsequent notice, as a result of which it was recognized as fruitless. .

Geothermal energy is one of the gentlest and least environmentally damaging renewable energy sources, with direct use (central heating, greenhouses, aquaculture, drying of agricultural products, spa treatment and spas) and indirect use in electricity generation. The technology of geothermal projects is related to the technology of drilling for oil and natural gas. Geothermal fields are located after geophysical surveys at a depth that starts from 1 to 4 km. The results of the surveys are confirmed by drilling, which, depending on the depth, costs from 1.5 to 12 million euros. The geothermal field is described as an underground natural reservoir in which water descending from faults at great depths accumulates and is heated by natural rocks. The pumping of already warm water can be used for heating, growing crops, etc. and at temperatures above 100°C and for the production of a continuous flow of electricity. The first attempt at such exploitation was made at Milos by PPC in the 1980s, where five drillings revealed fields with a temperature of 290-320°C. half of the total electricity consumption in the Cyclades. This prospect was doomed for more than four decades by the failure of the CPT in 1980. Poor drilling and poor engineering practices at the power plant, which was completed in 1986, led to its permanent closure in 1989 after strong protests from residents over the strong smells of hydrogen sulfide emissions. . The rupture of the wall of a production well in 1993 and the uncontrolled release of large amounts of geothermal fluid into the atmosphere for several weeks further aggravated the climate and to this day the inhabitants of Milos do not want to hear about geothermal energy. Whether PPC Renewables manages to change this hostile climate will also depend on whether it wins the bid to develop the nation’s largest geothermal fields. PPC Renewables has identified the area where the drilling will take place and has completed an environmental study, but the first contacts of Managing Director Konstantinos Mavros with the local authorities are not only encouraging… The “no” of the local government of Milos was unanimous in the administrative board last April to Mr. Mavro during the presentation of the project for the first drilling and installation of a 5 MW power plant. PPC Renewables has designed an 8 MW unit on the island of Lesbos and 5 MW units in other regions. The project budget is estimated at 120 million euros – 70 million euros for research and 50 million euros for the installation of production plants.