Amazon has announced that it has invested in three large scale wind farms in Greece. The investment marks the company’s largest renewable energy initiative in Greece so far. The wind farms will help decarbonize Amazon’s operations while boosting the country’s energy transition.
Expanding Renewable Energy in Greece
Amazon signed four Power Purchase Agreements for three wind farms across Greece. There are two PPAs on the Vermio wind farm, divided between Vermio North and Vermio South. These are two locations in the regions of Western and Central Macedonia. The other two PPAs were signed for the Mesokorfi and Koukouras wind farms in the Peloponnese region.
The construction of these projects is already underway. The projects are expected to produce the output in 2026. When fully established, the wind farms will produce enough electricity to power almost 200,000 homes in the country annually.
The wind farms will supply the grid with its energy directly. Amazon and other regional groups will profit from the electricity produced. Local businesses, public institutions, and households are the regional groups that stand to benefit.
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Economic and Employment Benefits
These renewable energy projects are anticipated to boost the local economy. The construction phase alone is expected to create hundreds of employment opportunities in the region. For instance, the Vermio wind farm alone has produced over 100 construction jobs.
This number is only expected to increase when the construction phase reaches its peak. The wind farms will also create jobs as long term opportunities once they become operational.
It is anticipated that the Amazon funds will accelerate Greece’s energy transformation and supply renewable electricity to the country. The investments benefit Amazon as well as Greece and help it reach its net zero goals.
Aiding Sustainability Goals
The new wind farms in Greece are a part of Amazon’s continuous efforts to increase its use of renewable energy. This initiative is in addition to more than 180 wind and solar projects Amazon has supported across Europe.
Lindsay McQuade, Director of Energy for EMEA at AWS, mentioned that these projects are an essential aspect of Amazon’s mission to drive the carbon-free energy transition forward. They are not only essential for the company’s operations but also beneficial for local communities.