A consortium of energy companies in Greece to develop €8B hydrogen value chain
If approved, the White Dragon project would be a significant step in developing clean energy hydrogen technologies in Greece.
Advent Technologies Holdings, Inc., a fuel cell and hydrogen technology company, has submitted a joint proposal for funding in partnership with energy companies in Greece.
The project called ‘White Dragon’ covers the full hydrogen value chain, including developing an innovative, integrated green hydrogen project to support the Greece carbon emission reduction goal.
Depending on the approval from the relevant funding authorities, the combined budget for the project would be €8.063 billion spread out from 2022 to 2029. The project is expected to produce 250k tonnes/year of hydrogen, which would be channelled through pipelines. It is also anticipated that around 58k to 71k tonnes/year of hydrogen be supplied to other end users. The whole project is expected to save 11.5 million tonnes/year of Co2 and create 18k direct jobs and 29.5k indirect employment.
The consortium submitted the proposal on 5th May to the Greek government and the EU Major European Hydrogen Project (IPCEI) funding. The Region of Western Macedonia and the Cluster of Bioeconomy and Environment of Western Macedonia already support the project. The other partners include:
- Depa Commercial, which will serve as the project coordinator of White Dragon.
- Damco Energy S.A. (Copelouzos Group Company)
- PPC Greece
- The Hellenic Gas Transmission System Operator S.A., (Desfa)
- Hellenic Petroleum
- Motor Oil
- Corinth Pipeworks
- TAP
- Terna Energy
The multi-prong decarbonisation project main objective is to gradually replace the lignite power plants of Western Macedonia with clean energy production and transmission to make Greece’s energy system carbon neutral.
The White Dragon project plan is to employ renewable electricity to generate green hydrogen through electrolysis in Western Macedonia. The hydrogen would then be stored and used by using Advent’s high-temperature fuel cells to produce heat and electrical power. The clean energy will be supplied to all over Greece. The heat will be provided to the district heating networks of Western Macedonia and other industrial applications.
Dr Vasilis Gregoriou, Advent Chairman and CEO, said, “This is a long-term venture that, although still in the submission phase and awaiting multiple levels of approval, presents exciting possibilities for the future.”
The project also plans to establish a Hydrogen Industrial Research Centre within the Hydrogen High Technology, Research, and Development & Innovation Centre in Western Macedonia.
Gas pipelines will be used for transporting green hydrogen to end-users and storage for future use. The dedicated hydrogen pipeline would connect green hydrogen producers with large hydrogen end-users, such as refineries and the fertiliser industries.
The White Dragon project will also develop a dedicated hydrogen pipeline in Greece with a plan for hydrogen refuelling infrastructure for the whole transportation sector, including light & heavy-duty vehicles and trains. Furthermore, the project also aims to export hydrogen through the TAP Interstate Pipeline from Greece to Italy.
