DESFA and the European Commission have signed a €169.3 million Grant Agreement under the EU’s Innovation Fund to support the flagship Apollo CO₂ project — marking a major step toward Greece’s first large-scale carbon dioxide (CO₂) transport and liquefaction infrastructure.
A Strategic Hub for Carbon Capture and Export
With this funding, DESFA will develop the Apollo CO₂-LT facility at the Revythousa LNG Terminal on the island of Salamis. The project transforms the existing LNG terminal into an integrated hub for both LNG regasification and CO₂ liquefaction, featuring a dedicated CO₂ liquefaction unit, temporary storage, and export capabilities.
Innovative Use of Existing Infrastructure
The Apollo CO₂ project leverages the terminal’s existing cryogenic infrastructure — originally built for LNG — to significantly reduce energy consumption and operational costs associated with CO₂ liquefaction. This dual-use approach also enables flexible and cost-efficient maritime transport of liquefied CO₂.
A floating liquefaction and storage unit (FLSU) will complement the onshore facilities, offering conventional liquefaction capacity during periods of reduced LNG throughput, as well as additional short-term storage for liquefied CO₂.
Part of Europe’s Broader CCS Strategy
Apollo CO₂ was selected in November last year under the Innovation Fund’s fifth call for large-scale projects. It has already been designated a Project of Common Interest (PCI No. 13.11), recognizing its critical role as the midstream link in Greece’s emerging carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain. The facility will connect domestic CO₂ capture initiatives — including industrial emitters and power plants — with onshore and offshore storage sites, such as the Prinos offshore reservoir, and extend connectivity across the wider Mediterranean region.
An Open-Access Network for Decarbonisation
The broader Apollo CO₂ initiative aims to establish an open-access network for CO₂ transport, liquefaction, and export. This model aligns with the European Union’s vision of a unified internal CCS market and lowers barriers to entry for Greek industry and energy sector emitters. By enabling collaboration across low-carbon value chains, it supports Greek industrial competitiveness amid rising energy costs.
Next Steps and Regional Momentum
Upcoming milestones include further technical and commercial maturation of the project, targeting commissioning by the end of 2030 — in line with the EU’s CCS deployment timeline. The project’s regional significance was highlighted at the CCSA EU Conference 2026 in Brussels on 30 June, where Cleopatra Avraam, DESFA’s Strategic Planning Senior Director, presented Apollo CO₂ during the panel ‘A Shared Sea, a Shared Solution: Cross-Border CCUS in the Mediterranean’, underscoring the importance of transnational cooperation in building shared CCS infrastructure.