Greece is preparing to produce biomethane for the first time after state-owned gas supplier DEPA Commercial received the country's first installation permit for a compressed biomethane production unit.
The facility, located at an existing biogas plant known as Farma Chitas in Filippiada, western Greece, is approaching its trial operation phase. Once operational, the plant will upgrade surplus biogas into bio-CNG for sale as a transport fuel at DEPA Commercial's Fisikon service station network.
The Farma Chitas site in the Epirus region is licensed for 3 MW of biogas-to-electricity generation but has a maximum biogas production capacity equivalent to 3.6 MW, leaving a surplus of 609 kW.
The new biomethane unit, spanning almost 500 square metres, will process this excess capacity into up to 2.28 tonnes per day of biomethane, compressed into 17 cubic metres of bio-CNG.
Kyriaki Karakitsou, who oversees subsidiary activities at DEPA Commercial, said the project was among the solutions to reduce Greece's dependence on energy imports and would serve as a basis for evaluating further investment opportunities and broader use of biomethane.
Following the trial period, the company intends to apply for an operating licence with a view to reaching full operation early next year.
