Contribution | Thalis1

Project Contribution

Thalis1 is a transformative green hydrogen project designed to address critical Regional and European energy priorities. Through its integrated infrastructure and clean production model, it contributes significantly to the EU’s green transition, energy security, and grid flexibility goals.

Sustainability

Thalis1 fully aligns with the EU’s sustainability agenda and the objectives outlined under the RED III Directive, offering:

100% renewable energy supply, powered by a dedicated 2.1 GWp photovoltaic plant with supplementary green electricity from the grid when needed.
Use of residual wastewater from the Thessaloniki Wastewater Treatment Plant for electrolysis, ensuring minimal environmental footprint and reduced freshwater usage.
Utilization of peak RES production, preventing renewable energy curtailments and maximizing solar output efficiency.

Up to 95% emissions reduction in hydrogen production, compared to grey hydrogen, significantly lowering the project’s carbon footprint and contributing to climate neutrality targets.

Security of Supply

Designed with resilience and scalability in mind, Thalis1 enhances national and regional energy security by:

Featuring a modular electrolyzer configuration, with the ability to inject between 3.0 and 21.8 tons/hour of green hydrogen into the European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) via the HI East corridor.
Incorporating significant hydrogen storage capacity and buffer tanks within the electrolysis plant, ensuring continuous and reliable feed-in capacity.
Operating through a private high-voltage grid connection, while maintaining access to the national electricity grid, offering multiple secure pathways for power supply.

Enabling System Flexibility

Thalis1 plays a strategic role in supporting system flexibility and sector coupling:

Dynamic integration with renewable generation, allowing the electrolyzers to follow PV generation profiles and reduce strain on the grid during peak hours.
Participation in grid-balancing services, through the use of both direct RES and certified green electricity from the grid.
Hydrogen storage and transport capabilities add flexibility for energy system operators, while enabling seamless sector coupling between electricity and gas/hydrogen networks.