PPC Group, the largest clean energy company in Southeast Europe, has launched a new collaboration with the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance (HSA) to embed international best practices across its hydropower portfolio and accelerate progress towards its sustainability goals.
This partnership marks a significant step in PPC’s broader strategy to lead the energy transition in Greece and the wider region, with a strong focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. As part of its efforts to accelerate the decarbonisation of the energy mix, PPC is advancing ambitious plans to phase out Lignite plants and repurpose former lignite pits for pumped storage hydropower (PSH), among other projects.
In May 2025, senior representatives from HSA met with PPC’s executive team in Athens to launch the partnership and begin a programme of capacity building and project-level engagement. The visit included Certified User training for 32 PPC staff, equipping them to use the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS) as a tool to assess and improve the ESG performance of their existing and under development hydropower and PSH projects.
Further activities are planned throughout 2025, including self-assessments of selected projects, and an Internal Assessor Training. The partnership also includes plans to conduct an official assessment of a PPC hydropower project later this year, with a view to pursuing certification under the HSS.
PPC Group’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Achilleas Ioakeimidis, stated: “PPC is undergoing a holistic transformation with the aim of achieving net-zero GHG emissions across the value chain by 2040. As part of this transformation, we are firmly committed to embedding the highest standards of sustainability into every aspect of our operations. Hydropower plays a pivotal role in our clean energy strategy, and adopting the Hydropower Sustainability Standard is a key step in ensuring that our hydropower and PSH projects meet rigorous environmental, social, and governance criteria. Our partnership with the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance supports our vision to lead the energy transition in Greece and Southeast Europe in a responsible and transparent manner.”
João Costa, Executive Director of the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance, said: “This collaboration with PPC represents a strong commitment to sustainability and international good practice in hydropower development. PPC is showing leadership across the region by embedding ESG excellence into the heart of its operations, rooted in the Hydropower Sustainability Standard. We are proud to support their journey through training, capacity building and project assessments, and we look forward to seeing their ambition translated into tangible impact.”
The Hydropower Sustainability Standard provides a globally recognised framework for evaluating and certifying hydropower and PSH projects against rigorous sustainability criteria. By adopting this standard, PPC Group aims to further strengthen its position as one of Europe’s most responsible and forward-looking energy companies.
