Elpedison, in the framework of providing energy services to commercial and industrial customers, has signed a 15-year agreement with Athenian Brewery for the construction and operation of a solar thermal steam generation system with a nominal capacity of 5.75 MWth, which will be accompanied by a 15.5 MWhth steam storage system. This system aims to cover 25% of the total thermal energy required for the production of steam at the industrial facility of Athenian Brewery in Patras, where Elpedison has already constructed a 1 MWp photovoltaic system.

The project is expected to contribute significantly to the achievement of Athenian Brewery's strategic objectives regarding the improvement of its environmental footprint, through the reduction of CO2 emissions by 25%. At the same time, it will reduce the energy costs of the industrial facility, through the self-consumption of the "green" thermal energy that the solar thermal system will produce. In addition, it will reduce its dependence on fossil fuels - oil and/or gas - and its exposure to fuel cost fluctuations, while enhancing the energy efficiency of the facility.

Elpedison covers 40% of the value of the investment, while the remaining 60% has received a grant from the EU Innovation Fund. The solar thermal steam power plant will be part of Elpedison's portfolio, which has taken over the turnkey construction of the project as well as the subsequent operation and maintenance of the system. Athenian Brewery has already signed a 15-year Thermal Purchase Agreement (TPA) with Elpedison for the consumption of the steam produced by the system.

The new system, based on its optimal design, will supply steam, efficiently and under the required specifications, to the existing production process of Athenian Brewery. Moreover, the solar thermal system will be installed alongside the existing boilers and will supply steam through the existing boiler room.

This project is a milestone for the Greek market and adds to a number of projects that have been constructed and managed by Elpedison's Energy Efficiency Services business unit, through a highly qualified team of specialized engineers, providing personalized and integrated solutions.

The CEO of Elpedison, Mr. N. Zahariadis, said: "We are very pleased to announce the continuation of our strategic cooperation in the energy services sector with the Heineken Group. With the solar thermal steam generation and storage plant, which Elpedison will build and operate with significant economic benefits for the industrial facility of Athenian Brewery in Patras, we support both the Heineken Group's vision towards sustainable development and its goal of zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and Elpedison's vision to lead the market by providing leading and innovative energy solutions".

On the other side, the CFO of Athenian Brewery, Shankar Ramalingam, stressed out that: "The collaboration with Elpedison for the solar thermal steam generation and storage system is another important step in our journey towards sustainable development. It is part of a broader strategy aimed at transforming our Patras plant into one of the first “green” plants of the HEINEKEN Group in Europe by 2030, with a zero carbon footprint. As one of the largest beer production plants in Southeastern Europe, the Patras plant - one of our two plants in Greece - is at the heart of our company's sustainability strategy, which runs through all our production activities and every stage of our operations, from field to glass. With significant investments, strong partnerships and innovative solutions, Athenian Brewery actively and effectively supports the transition to a low-emission economy, contributing to a better tomorrow".