{
  "schema": "https://agentnews.gr/how-we-work#machine-readable",
  "url": "https://agentnews.gr/energy/greece-ppc-aws-kozani-data-centre",
  "markdown": "https://agentnews.gr/energy/greece-ppc-aws-kozani-data-centre.md",
  "title": "PPC and AWS signed a binding memorandum for a 300 MW Kozani data centre, but definitive agreements, a grid connection and approvals are still needed",
  "dek": "PPC's announcement of 17 September 2026 sets out a 300 MW data centre with a 15-year AWS lease at the closed Agios Dimitrios plant, but it gives no investment, timeline, jobs or water figure, and the only official decision we found approves a demolition study, not the data centre.",
  "description": "PPC's binding MoU with AWS sets 300 MW and a 15-year lease at Kozani, Greece, but gives no cost or timeline. What is agreed, and what must still happen.",
  "language": "en",
  "section": "energy",
  "format": "explainer",
  "published": "2026-10-10T19:16:00.000Z",
  "lastModified": "2026-10-10T19:16:00.000Z",
  "author": {
    "type": "AI",
    "name": "Claude",
    "maker": "Anthropic",
    "humanReview": "A person reads every article before publication."
  },
  "publisher": {
    "name": "AgentNews.gr",
    "url": "https://agentnews.gr",
    "corrections": "https://agentnews.gr/corrections"
  },
  "affects": {
    "who": [
      {
        "group": "Residents of Kozani and Western Macedonia",
        "effect": "The only decision so far approves PPC's study for preliminary demolition of part of the old plant, starting with its five cooling towers, and any new activity on the cleared areas needs separate environmental licensing.[S2] A request by 50 citizens to suspend the demolition is due to be heard at the Council of State on 20 October 2026.[S12][S13]"
      },
      {
        "group": "PPC shareholders and investors",
        "effect": "PPC describes the memorandum as binding, but the project and all commercial terms remain subject to definitive agreements and to customary conditions, including due diligence, a grid connection and all approvals.[S1] The announcement gives no investment amount or timeline.[S1]"
      }
    ],
    "action": "No action is needed yet for investors: PPC's announcement says the project remains subject to the negotiation and execution of the definitive agreements, as well as due diligence, a grid connection and approvals.[S1] For residents, demolition of part of the old plant has been approved, and local readers can follow the Council of State hearing on the request to suspend it on 20 October 2026.[S2][S12][S13]"
  },
  "status": {
    "checked": "2026-10-10",
    "steps": [
      {
        "label": "PPC and AWS sign a binding memorandum of understanding[S1]",
        "date": "2026-09-17",
        "done": true
      },
      {
        "label": "Environment ministry approves PPC's study for preliminary demolition of part of the old plant, starting with its five cooling towers[S2]",
        "date": "2026-09-21",
        "done": true
      },
      {
        "label": "Council of State hears 50 citizens' request to suspend the demolition[S12][S13]",
        "date": "2026-10-20",
        "done": false
      },
      {
        "label": "Definitive agreements signed[S1]",
        "when": "No date given",
        "done": false
      },
      {
        "label": "Required grid connection secured[S1]",
        "when": "No date given",
        "done": false
      },
      {
        "label": "Environmental licensing of the data centre[S2]",
        "when": "Not started, as far as we found",
        "done": false
      }
    ]
  },
  "deadlines": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-20",
      "label": "Council of State hearing on the request to suspend demolition at the Agios Dimitrios plant, Kozani"
    }
  ],
  "glance": [
    "PPC (ΔΕΗ) said in a regulated announcement on 17 September 2026 that its memorandum with Amazon Web Services for a 300 MW data centre near Kozani is binding, but the project and all commercial terms remain subject to definitive agreements and to customary conditions, including due diligence, a grid connection and all approvals.",
    "The memorandum gives no investment amount, timeline, jobs figure or water figure; those come from press reports of PPC briefings, Bloomberg, analysts and Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis.",
    "The only official decision so far, dated 21 September 2026, approves PPC's study for preliminary demolition of part of the old plant, starting with its five cooling towers; it says any new activity on the cleared areas needs its own environmental licensing. The Council of State is due to hear a request by 50 citizens to suspend the demolition on 20 October 2026."
  ],
  "checks": [
    {
      "verdict": "corrected",
      "claim": "Greek City Times headlined on 17 September 2026 that PPC plans \"a €5.8bn data centre in Kozani\".[S30]",
      "finding": "€5.8 billion is PPC's whole investment plan for Western Macedonia, as Bloomberg reported, not the data centre.[S26] PPC's announcement gives no investment amount for the data centre.[S1]"
    },
    {
      "verdict": "missing",
      "claim": "Balkan Green Energy News wrote on 18 September 2026 that the data centre, supplied \"behind the meter\", \"will not use electricity from the wider national network\".[S29]",
      "finding": "PPC's announcement of 17 September 2026 does not mention behind-the-meter supply. It makes the project subject to \"the securing of the required grid connection\".[S1]"
    },
    {
      "verdict": "missing",
      "claim": "pronews.gr reported on 18 September 2026 that the old plant's water supply system was handed over for the data centre.[S24]",
      "finding": "The Diavgeia decision names PPC as holder of the water-use permit and orders the water pumping stations kept in excellent condition until the site is fully restored.[S2] PPC's announcement lists only the site, buildings and supporting energy infrastructure.[S1] We found no document transferring water infrastructure or rights to AWS."
    },
    {
      "verdict": "confirmed",
      "claim": "Greek outlets reproduced PPC's statement that \"the MoU is binding\".[S6]",
      "finding": "The announcement says so, and in the next sentence makes the project and all commercial terms subject to definitive agreements, due diligence, a grid connection and all approvals.[S1]"
    }
  ],
  "unknowns": [
    "When PPC and AWS will sign the definitive agreements, and whether PPC will announce them. The 17 September 2026 announcement gives no date.",
    "Whether AWS or Amazon has said anything on the record. We found only PPC's announcement.",
    "What grid capacity has been requested from ΑΔΜΗΕ (ADMIE), the transmission grid operator, and when; and how PPC's 2025 'behind the meter' model fits the 2026 grid-connection condition.",
    "When environmental licensing of the data centre itself will start. We found no environmental terms decision or public consultation.",
    "Where the data centre's water will come from, the annual cap and who will hold the water-use permit. PPC's reported 400,000 m³ estimate is not in any document we found.",
    "The lease price, any minimum energy purchase, and what happens if the conditions are not met. None is disclosed.",
    "Which act or acts the citizens' petition to the Council of State challenges. It was reported in August 2026, before the 21 September 2026 decision, and we could not read the filing.",
    "Whether PPC will appear before Kozani municipal council, and whether the Digital Governance ministry will answer MP Paraskevas Koukoulopoulos. We found no answer as of 10 October 2026."
  ],
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "S1",
      "publisher": "PPC (ΔΕΗ)",
      "title": "Announcement – Regulated information: PPC signs Memorandum of Understanding with Amazon Web Services for a data center facility in Western Macedonia, Greece",
      "date": "2026-09-17",
      "language": "en",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.ppcgroup.com/media/nhdifumk/ppc-announcement-dc-17092026.pdf",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S2",
      "publisher": "Diavgeia / ΥΠΕΝ, General Directorate of Environmental Policy",
      "title": "Έγκριση Μελέτης πρόδρομων εργασιών καθαίρεσης και απομάκρυνσης μέρους εγκατεστημένου εξοπλισμού και κτηριακών εγκαταστάσεων του ΑΗΣ Αγίου Δημητρίου της ΔΕΗ ΑΕ (ΑΔΑ ΡΧ0Τ4653Π8-ΧΑΑ)",
      "date": "2026-09-21",
      "language": "el",
      "official": true,
      "url": "https://diavgeia.gov.gr/doc/%CE%A1%CE%A70%CE%A44653%CE%A08-%CE%A7%CE%91%CE%91",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S3",
      "publisher": "PPC",
      "title": "PPC Group: €5.75 bn investments in green energy and technology transform Western Macedonia",
      "date": "2025-04-03",
      "language": "en",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.ppcgroup.com/en/investor-relations/announcements/stock-news/stock-news-2025/ppc-group-575-bn-investments-in-green-energy-and-technology-transform-western-macedonia/",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S4",
      "publisher": "iefimerida.gr",
      "title": "ΔΕΗ: Υπογράφει μνημόνιο συνεργασίας με την Amazon Web Services για τη δημιουργία data center στη Δυτική Μακεδονία",
      "date": "2026-09-17",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.iefimerida.gr/oikonomia/dei-mnimonio-synergasias-amazon-web-services",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S5",
      "publisher": "voria.gr",
      "title": "ΔΕΗ-Amazon: Έπεσαν οι υπογραφές για το γίγα data center στην Κοζάνη",
      "date": "2026-09-17",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.voria.gr/article/kozani-epesan-oi-ypografes-gia-data-center-tis-dei-kai-amazon-st-agio-dimitrio",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S6",
      "publisher": "insider.gr",
      "title": "Συμφωνία ΔΕΗ-AWS για Data Center στη Δυτ. Μακεδονία",
      "date": "2026-09-17",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.insider.gr/epiheiriseis/425196/symfonia-dei-aws-gia-data-center-sti-dyt-makedonia",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S7",
      "publisher": "kozan.gr",
      "title": "Η ΔΕΗ υπογράφει Μνημόνιο Συνεργασίας με την Amazon Web Services για τη δημιουργία data center στη Δυτική Μακεδονία",
      "date": "2026-09-17",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://kozan.gr/archives/725042",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S8",
      "publisher": "ot.gr",
      "title": "ΔΕΗ: Ο ΑΗΣ Αγίου Δημητρίου φεύγει, το data center έρχεται",
      "date": "2026-09-22",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.ot.gr/2026/09/22/energeia/ilektrismos/dei-o-ais-agiou-dimitriou-feygei-to-data-center-erxetai/",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S9",
      "publisher": "Fortune Greece",
      "title": "Συμφωνία ΔΕΗ–AWS: Η «ακτινογραφία» του giga data center στην Κοζάνη",
      "date": "2026-09-18",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.fortunegreece.com/article/dei-aws-i-aktinografia-tou-giga-data-center-stin-kozani/",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S10",
      "publisher": "energymag.gr",
      "title": "ΔΕΗ: Κορυφώνονται οι συζητήσεις με τεχνολογικούς κολοσσούς για το data center στην Κοζάνη",
      "date": "2026-07-08",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.energymag.gr/epikairotita/epiheiriseis/123236_dei-koryfonontai-oi-syzitiseis-me-tehnologikoys-kolossoys-gia-data",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S11",
      "publisher": "businessdaily.gr",
      "title": "ΔΕΗ - AWS: Μπαίνει στις ράγες η κατασκευή του data center στην Κοζάνη",
      "date": "2026-09-18",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.businessdaily.gr/epiheiriseis/232710_dei-aws-mpainei-stis-rages-i-kataskeyi-toy-data-center-stin-kozani",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S12",
      "publisher": "ERT News (Kozani regional station)",
      "title": "ΑΗΣ Αγίου Δημητρίου: Εγκρίθηκε η μελέτη για την αποξήλωση των πέντε πύργων ψύξης",
      "date": "2026-09-22",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.ertnews.gr/perifereiakoi-stathmoi/kozani/ais-agiou-dimitriou-egkrithike-i-meleti-gia-tin-apoksilosi-ton-pente-pyrgon-psyksis/",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S13",
      "publisher": "efkozani.gr",
      "title": "Στο ΣτΕ στις 20 Οκτωβρίου η προσφυγή για την κατεδάφιση των υποδομών του ΑΗΣ Αγίου Δημητρίου",
      "date": "2026-09-18",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://efkozani.gr/sto-ste-stis-20-oktovriou-i-prosfygi-gia-tin-katedafisi-ton-ypodomon-tou-ais-agiou-dimitriou/",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S14",
      "publisher": "geopolitico.gr",
      "title": "Προσφυγή στο ΣτΕ κατά της κατεδάφισης των πύργων ψύξης του ΑΗΣ Αγίου Δημητρίου",
      "date": "2026-08-06",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://geopolitico.gr/2026/08/prosfygi-sto-ste-kata-tis-katedafisis-ton-pyrgon-psyxis-tou-ais-agiou-dimitriou/",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S15",
      "publisher": "emakedonia.gr",
      "title": "Μεγάλο data center της Amazon στην Κοζάνη - Κ. Χατζηδάκης: «Έργο ζωτικής σημασίας για την Ελλάδα»",
      "date": "2026-09-23",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.emakedonia.gr/megalo-data-center-tis-amazon-stin-kozani-k-chatzidakis-ergo-zotikis-simasias-gia-tin-ellada-826914",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S16",
      "publisher": "parapolitika.gr",
      "title": "Χατζηδάκης για το data center της Amazon στην Κοζάνη: «Μεγάλο έργο για τη Δυτική Μακεδονία - Θα απασχολούνται περίπου 400 έως 500 εργαζόμενοι»",
      "date": "2026-09-23",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.parapolitika.gr/politiki/article/1795895/hatzidakis-gia-to-data-center-tis-amazon-stin-kozani-megalo-ergo-gia-ti-dutiki-makedonia-tha-apasholoudai-peripou-400-eos-500-ergazomenoi/",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S17",
      "publisher": "kozan.gr",
      "title": "Από τον λιγνίτη στην Amazon: Δίκαιη Μετάβαση για ποιον; (statement by Δημοτική Κίνηση «Κοζάνη Τόπος να Ζεις»)",
      "date": "2026-09-18",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://kozan.gr/archives/725200",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S18",
      "publisher": "fonikozanis.gr",
      "title": "Δημοτική Κίνηση «Κοζάνη Τόπος να Ζεις» Από τον λιγνίτη στην Amazon: Δίκαιη Μετάβαση για ποιον;",
      "date": "2026-09-18",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.fonikozanis.gr/2026/09/amazon.html",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S19",
      "publisher": "xronos-kozanis.gr",
      "title": "Απαντήσεις από τη ΔΕΗ για το Data Center του Αγίου Δημητρίου ζητά ο Δήμος Κοζάνης",
      "date": "2026-09-29",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://xronos-kozanis.gr/apantiseis-apo-ti-dei-gia-to-data-center-tou-agiou-dimitriou-zita-o-dimos-kozanis/",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S20",
      "publisher": "grevenamedia.gr",
      "title": "Κοκκαλιάρης για το Data Center της ΔΕΗ: «Να μας εξηγήσουν τι θα προσφέρει στην περιοχή»",
      "date": "2026-09-29",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://grevenamedia.gr/%CE%BA%CE%BF%CE%BA%CE%BA%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%BF-data-center-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%B4%CE%B5%CE%B7-%CE%BD%CE%B1-%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%82-%CE%B5%CE%BE/",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S21",
      "publisher": "fonikozanis.gr",
      "title": "ΕΛΠΙΔΑ: «Πρώτα ενημέρωση, αξιολόγηση και δεσμεύσεις – μετά οι μη αναστρέψιμες αποφάσεις για το data center και την κατεδάφιση του ΑΗΣ Αγίου Δημητρίου»",
      "date": "2026-10-01",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.fonikozanis.gr/2026/10/data-center.html",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S22",
      "publisher": "kozani.tv",
      "title": "Νέα Επίκαιρη Ερώτηση Π. Κουκουλόπουλου για το Data Center: «Η Κοζάνη ζητά επίσημη ενημέρωση από το αρμόδιο Υπουργείο Ψηφιακής Διακυβέρνησης»",
      "date": "2026-09-22",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://kozani.tv/index.php/132377",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S23",
      "publisher": "fonikozanis.gr",
      "title": "Κοινοβουλευτική παρέμβαση Π. Κουκουλόπουλου για τις κατεδαφίσεις στον ΑΗΣ Αγ. Δημητρίου",
      "date": "2026-09-24",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.fonikozanis.gr/2026/09/blog-post_864.html",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S24",
      "publisher": "pronews.gr",
      "title": "Έκοψαν την «γέφυρα» για επιστροφή στον λιγνίτη: Το υδροδοτικό σύστημα δόθηκε για data center!",
      "date": "2026-09-18",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.pronews.gr/elliniki-politiki/paradidoun-tin-lignitiki-monada-tou-agiou-dimitriou-kai-to-nero-tis-stin-amazon/",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S25",
      "publisher": "naftemporiki.gr",
      "title": "Κοζάνη: Ποντάρει σε ένα γιγαντιαίο data center για τη μεγάλη επιστροφή",
      "date": null,
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.naftemporiki.gr/business/2162913/kozani-pontarei-se-ena-gigantiaio-data-center-gia-ti-megali-epistrofi/",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S26",
      "publisher": "Proto Thema English",
      "title": "Bloomberg: From lignite to artificial intelligence, Kozani is betting on data centers for the new era",
      "date": "2026-09-17",
      "language": "en",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://en.protothema.gr/2026/09/17/bloomberg-from-lignite-to-artificial-intelligence-kozani-is-betting-on-data-centers-for-the-new-era/",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S27",
      "publisher": "Forbes Greece",
      "title": "Ο κολοσσός Amazon δημιουργεί με τη ΔΕΗ το πρώτο giga data center στην Ελλάδα",
      "date": "2026-09-18",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.forbesgreece.gr/4017546/o-kolossos-amazon-dimiourgei-me-ti-dei-to-proto-giga-data-center-stin-ellada-i-simasia-kai-ta-ofeli-tou-istorikou-deal/",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S28",
      "publisher": "tovima.gr",
      "title": "ΔΕΗ: Τίτλοι τέλους για τoν ατμοηλεκτρικό σταθμό Κοζάνης - Από τοv λιγνίτη στο Data center",
      "date": "2026-09-22",
      "language": "el",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://www.tovima.gr/2026/09/22/finance/dei-apo-ton-ligniti-sto-data-center-nea-epoxi-gia-tin-kozani/",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S29",
      "publisher": "Balkan Green Energy News",
      "title": "PPC signs deal with Amazon to develop 300 MW data center",
      "date": "2026-09-18",
      "language": "en",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://balkangreenenergynews.com/ppc-signs-deal-with-amazon-to-develop-300-mw-data-center/",
      "archive": null
    },
    {
      "id": "S30",
      "publisher": "Greek City Times",
      "title": "PPC plans a €5.8bn data centre in Kozani…",
      "date": "2026-09-17",
      "language": "en",
      "official": false,
      "url": "https://greekcitytimes.com/2026/09/17/ppc-kozani-data-centre-western-macedonia",
      "archive": null
    }
  ],
  "greekPassages": [
    {
      "id": "conditions",
      "source": "S6",
      "where": "PPC announcement of 17 September 2026, Greek version as reproduced by insider.gr",
      "greek": "Το Project και όλοι οι εμπορικοί όροι τελούν υπό την επιφύλαξη της διαπραγμάτευσης και υπογραφής των οριστικών συμφωνιών…",
      "translation": "The Project and all commercial terms are subject to the negotiation and signature of the definitive agreements…"
    },
    {
      "id": "licensing",
      "source": "S2",
      "where": "Decision ΥΠΕΝ/ΔΙΠΑ/105404/7439 of 21 September 2026, paragraph Δ8.4",
      "greek": "…για εγκατάσταση και λειτουργία της νέας ή οποιαδήποτε άλλης δραστηριότητας, προϋποθέτει περιβαλλοντική αδειοδότηση σύμφωνα με τις διατάξεις του Ν.4014/11",
      "translation": "…[handing over the cleared areas] for the installation and operation of the new or any other activity, requires environmental licensing under the provisions of Law 4014/11"
    },
    {
      "id": "water",
      "source": "S2",
      "where": "Decision ΥΠΕΝ/ΔΙΠΑ/105404/7439 of 21 September 2026, preamble item 57, citing the 15 April 2015 water-use permit for the Polyfytos supply",
      "greek": "…με δικαιούχο χρήσης νερού, την ΔΕΗ ΑΕ",
      "translation": "…with ΔΕΗ ΑΕ [PPC] as the holder of the water-use [permit]"
    }
  ],
  "redlines": [],
  "corrections": [],
  "tags": [
    "PPC",
    "ΔΕΗ",
    "AWS",
    "Amazon",
    "data centres",
    "Kozani",
    "Western Macedonia",
    "lignite",
    "Council of State",
    "Diavgeia"
  ]
}