PPC’s Agios Dimitrios I, II, III, IV phase-out starting July 1

Power utility PPC’s four Agios Dimitrios power station units in Kozani, northern Greece will be phased out as of July 1 and should cease operating, completely, well before 2022, when the facilities are officially scheduled to shut down as part of Greece’s decarbonization effort.

At this stage, it appears that Agios Dimitrios I, II, III and IV will only be available in winter to cover telethermal needs. These units will not be used for electricity generation, according to PPC’s new business plan, meaning they will be withdrawn sooner than had been expected.

Contrary to the four Agios Dimitrios units, an emission-limiting desulphurization investment now being completed at Agios Dimitrios V is expected to prolong the life of this unit as the effort’s results should meet EU emission limits.

PPC, responding to an EU directive from 2010 asking producers to inform, by 2013, on how they intended to transform high-polluting facilities, had performed a dry desulphurization process on Agios Dimitrios I, II, III and IV ahead of a June 30, 2020 deadline, but this technique failed to produce the desired results.