Greek natural gas transmission system operator DESFA is requesting 160 million euros in funding from the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to support the development of its Apollo CO2 liquefaction unit. This funding would also cover the necessary studies to advance the project. The Apollo CO2 initiative aims to address carbon emissions by liquefying CO2, which is more efficient for transportation and storage compared to its gaseous form due to its higher density.
The Apollo CO2 project will focus on collecting emissions from various sources via a network of pipelines and liquefying them at a dedicated facility. This will be part of a larger effort by DESFA to support carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies as part of Greece’s decarbonization strategy.
The liquefaction plant is set to be located on the islet of Revythoussa, near Athens, where DESFA already operates an LNG terminal. From there, liquefied CO2 will be transported to the Prinos storage facility, which is being developed by EnEarth, a subsidiary of Energean focused on carbon storage, or to other similar facilities abroad.
Both the Prinos facility and the Apollo CO2 project are listed as EU Projects of Common Interest, qualifying them for favorable EU funding conditions. The development of the CO2 liquefaction unit is seen as a key step in reducing carbon emissions and supporting Greece’s and the EU’s broader climate goals.