Greece is turning its coal heartland into a green energy hub

This video is part of: Centre for Energy and Materials

‘It’s moving from coal to AI.’

Western Macedonia is one of Greece’s former industrial strongholds. It became prosperous by mining lignite - a soft brown form of coal - which provided 70% of Greece's energy.

In a post-coal age, however, the region has faced difficulties, with a decline in jobs, industries, and population. Now, utility company PPC S.A., as its CEO Stassis explains, has a plan to turn the region into a powerhouse for the information era. It features hydro and solar facilities, clean energy storage, and a massive data center that aims to return Western Macedonia to prosperity and competitiveness.

The World Economic Forum’s Transitioning Industrial Clusters initiative brings together leaders from industry and government to foster economic growth, protect jobs, and reduce CO2 emissions. Learn more.