EDEYEP, the Hellenic Hydrocarbons and Energy Resources Management Company, appears to have identified two more areas in Greece’s north, besides Prinos, that could be appropriate for the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects.

Unlike Prinos, a hydrocarbon deposit, the new areas identified by the company are deep saline aquifers, or geological formations consisting of water permeable rocks that are saturated with salt water.

CO2 storage needs of industrial producers are constantly rising throughout Europe. This trend has led to more extensive scanning of both hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon areas, onshore and offshore, for suitable sites that could cater to CCS needs.

One of the two areas identified by EDEYEP is situated in Greece’s central Macedonian region and is spread both onshore and offshore. The other is in western Macedonia’s Grevena region.

Both locations, selected from a longer list that resulted from an initial survey conducted by EDEYEP in 2020, seem to possess attributes suitable for CCS projects, namely large capacity and a proven safe and secure storage environment.

EDEYEP, joined by EKETA, the National Center for Research and Technological Development, has been surveying the CCS potential of the aforementioned locations for quite some time with support from an EU-funded PilotSTRATEGY CCUS program, designed to promote exploration of sites in southern and eastern Europe for development of large-scale CCS projects.