In Greece, the solar program along the Athens–Patras highway officially inaugurated

In the presence of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Christos Dimas, Olympia Odos, concessionaire of the Athens-Patras-Pyrgos highway, subsidiary of VINCI Highways, Avax, Aktor and TERNA, presented a large-scale solar power plant program deployed along the highway and inaugurated one of the solar parks in the area of Kiato.

With a total installed capacity of 10 MWp, it is the largest highway photovoltaic plant ever developed in Greece. The plant forms a network of 19 photovoltaic parks installed along the highway across the regions of Achaia, Corinth and Western Attica. It makes use of roadside land, toll station canopies and rooftops of operational centers. Its production will fully cover the electricity needs of the highway’s operations, including lighting, dynamic signage and tunnel ventilation systems. With final technical adjustments and grid connections currently underway, the last units of the program will be built and plugged by the end of the year.

This project was financed and delivered in less than two years under the Olympia Odos concession contract with the Greek State, demonstrating the ability of the concession model to mobilize private investment for public infrastructure and accelerate the environmental transition.

This initiative is part of Olympia Odos’ plan to reduce its carbon footprint. Alongside other actions such as the widespread use of LED lighting, Olympia Odos aims to cut its direct emissions (scopes 1 and 2) by 2030. Efforts also focus on helping to reduce road users’ emissions (scope 3), by encouraging the shift to electric vehicles. To this end, a new generation of EV charging stations is currently being deployed across the network. Delivered through the concession model, this program will bring EV coverage along Olympia Odos to 26 fast chargers per 100 km by the end of the year, in line with the best European standards.

“We are inaugurating the largest solar park network ever installed on a Greek motorway. This is an investment exceeding €10 million, implemented in under two years, and now stands as a model of sustainable and energy-autonomous infrastructure. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport firmly supports initiatives like today’s, which embed solutions with real added value for society, the economy, and the environment. Kiato is, without a doubt, one of the major beneficiaries of this initiative.” stated Minister Christos Dimas.

“Decarbonizing road transport requires strong investments and the ability to deliver fast. The concession model makes both possible – by mobilizing private capital and acting under public authority guidance. We thank the Greek government for embracing this model with vision and flexibility. In partnership with GEK TERNA, AKTOR and AVAX, we are proud of this meaningful step toward decarbonizing Olympia Odos and upgrading the environmental value of road infrastructure.” commented Belen Marcos, President of VINCI Highways.

“At Olympia Odos, we don’t just build roads – we work to shape a sustainable future. One of our most decisive steps is our goal to reach net zero emissions by 2030. With 19 solar units totaling 10 MWp installed along the highway, we are now fully covering our infrastructure’s energy needs with power from renewable sources. This is a critical part of our plan to eliminate emissions completely by 2030.” emphasized Dr. Panagiotis Papanikolas, CEO of Olympia Odos.

Thanks to this solar farm program, Olympia Odos is becoming a model of sustainable and energy-autonomous infrastructure, not just for Greece but at the European level. It is a concrete example of how technology, innovation and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand in the design and operation of major transport projects.