Amazon has announced its investment in three large-scale wind farms in Greece, marking its most significant renewable energy initiative in the country, according to ekathimerini.com. The wind farms, located in Western and Central Macedonia and the Peloponnese, are part of four Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Ireland-based renewable energy firm Aer Soléir.
The projects include the Vermio North and South wind farms in Macedonia, and the Mesokorfi and Koukouras wind farms in the Peloponnese. Currently under construction, they are expected to start generating power by 2026, producing enough carbon-free energy to supply nearly 200,000 Greek homes annually.
Amazon’s investment aims to directly power its operations and support the local energy grid, benefitting businesses, public institutions, and households. More than 100 construction jobs have already been created for the Vermio wind farm, with up to 300 expected at peak activity.
Aer Soléir has also committed over €1 million to community initiatives, including infrastructure improvements, support for schools and emergency services, and assistance to local agriculture. An additional €1.8 million has been earmarked for reforestation and biodiversity projects near the Vermio site.
The €496 million project is financed through a combination of €249 million in commercial debt from the National Bank of Greece and funds from the European Recovery & Resilience Fund.
“The collaboration between Aer Soléir, the National Bank of Greece, and Amazon represents a transformative investment exceeding $1 billion,” said Theodoros Skylakakis, Greece’s Minister of Energy & Environment.
This follows Amazon’s completion of Greece’s first utility-scale solar project in 2022, contributing over 1GW of clean energy to European grids.
Source: ekathimerini.gr