RWE and PPC commission 930 MWp solar complex in Northern Greece on site of former lignite mine

RWE and PPC have brought nearly one gigawatt of solar capacity online in Northern Greece, completing the commissioning of nine solar farms across three photovoltaic clusters in Western Macedonia. The final farm was recently commissioned through their joint venture, Meton Energy S.A., bringing the combined installation to 930 MWp (884 MWac)—enough to meet the annual electricity needs of more than 400,000 Greek homes.

Nine solar farms now fully operational in Western Macedonia

This is a joint venture between RWE, which holds a 51% stake, and PPC with the remaining 49%. Together, they operate through Meton Energy S.A.—the entity that developed, built, and commissioned all nine farms across Western Macedonia.

The nine farms are organized into three large-scale photovoltaic clusters delivering 930 MWp (884 MWac) of installed capacity, putting the complex just shy of the one-gigawatt mark. That scale carries real-world weight: the farms generate enough electricity to cover the annual demand of more than 400,000 Greek households. Both partners have publicly framed the completed Amynteo complex as proof of what cross-company collaboration can pull off in the renewable energy space.

Projects developed on the site of a decommissioned lignite mine

The location is arguably as significant as the capacity. All nine solar farms were built within the boundaries of the former Amynteo open-cast lignite mine — historically one of Greece’s primary coal-based power generation areas, and long considered the country’s coal heartland.

That context matters. Greece has been working to phase out coal, and the Amynteo site is one of the most tangible examples of that transition. Converting a decommissioned mine into a functioning solar complex isn’t purely symbolic — it’s a direct reuse of land that would otherwise sit idle after lignite operations ended. Meton Energy S.A. handled every stage of the process, from development through construction to final commissioning, and the conversion is widely seen as central to Greece’s broader coal phase-out strategy.

Economic impact: Jobs created and community investment agreements signed

Large-scale energy projects often spark debate about local benefits. At Amynteo, Meton Energy S.A. points to both direct and indirect job creation during construction, with hundreds of positions filled across the build-out period. The joint venture also reached agreements with local municipalities to fund compensatory projects in the region, alongside community sponsorships and donations. Specific figures weren’t disclosed, but the arrangements suggest a deliberate effort to anchor the development’s economic benefits to surrounding communities — not just to the construction window.

PPC’s ambitions extend well beyond this complex. The company has stated a target of reaching 19 GW of renewable capacity by the end of 2030, and the Amynteo farms, while a meaningful contribution, are clearly one piece of a much larger buildout.

Two additional solar projects under construction in central Macedonia

With the Amynteo complex fully operational, RWE and PPC aren’t slowing down. The two partners are currently building the Kotyli and Neo Syrakio solar farms in the Central Macedonia region of Northern Greece—projects that together will add 567 MWp (518 MWac) of capacity.

Commissioning is expected in 2027. Once online, those farms are projected to meet the annual energy needs of more than 240,000 Greek households. Smaller in scale than Amynteo, but still a significant addition. The move into Central Macedonia also extends the partnership’s geographic footprint, pointing to a deliberate strategy of spreading solar development across multiple regions of Northern Greece rather than concentrating everything in one area.

Reflecting Greece’s shift away from coal

The completion of the Amynteo complex gives RWE and PPC a combined 930 MWp of operational solar capacity in Western Macedonia, delivered through Meton Energy S.A. Nine farms organized into three photovoltaic clusters now occupy the grounds of a former lignite mine—a site that once reflected Greece’s dependence on coal and now reflects its shift away from it.

Construction created hundreds of jobs, and community investment agreements were signed with local municipalities. PPC continues to target 19 GW of total renewable capacity by 2030. The Kotyli and Neo Syrakio solar farms in Central Macedonia are under construction, carrying a combined capacity of 567 MWp and an expected commissioning date of 2027—extending the partnership’s total solar footprint in Northern Greece and adding generation capacity for an additional 240,000-plus households.