Mt. Athos, July 3, 2025
Photo: vatopedi.com
Vatopedi, one of the 20 ruling monasteries on Mt. Athos has begun trial operations of a 3 MW grid-forming battery energy storage system, marking a significant milestone in Greece’s renewable energy sector.
The facility, installed by Greek engineering contractor ENGAIA, features 3 MW of operating power and 6 MWh of storage capacity, making it the largest battery energy storage system in Greece. The project represents the first large-scale deployment of Huawei’s equipment in the Greek energy storage sector, reports Balkan Green Energy News.
Mt. Athos operates independently from Greece’s national electricity grid, historically relying on diesel-fired generators and solid fuel for power generation.
ENGAIA, a member of the London-based ECOERA group, is also installing a 1.1 MW photovoltaic unit to complement the battery system. The company described the independent microgrid with virtual synchronous generator technology as the largest in Greece and among the largest in Europe.
The shift to renewable energy addresses mounting challenges on Mt. Athos. According to experts, construction activity, a growing monastic population, and increased pilgrim numbers have significantly expanded energy demands in recent decades. The traditional reliance on oil and diesel generators has created noise and air pollution while imposing high operational costs on the monasteries.
The current project builds on earlier renewable energy initiatives. Three years ago, European Union funding was approved for 21 autonomous photovoltaic stations with a combined capacity of 2.64 MW, paired with energy storage systems. Greek company Mytilineos, now known as Metlen, secured the contract for those installations.
The first photovoltaic panels were installed on Mt. Athos in the 2010s as part of a broader transition plan. The Central Pilgrimage Agency of the Holy Mountain has announced intentions to fully implement renewable energy sources across all monasteries in the coming years.
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