The Greek Ministry of Environment and Energy (YUEN) has given the green light to another major investment project in the key energy storage sector ". The project is the construction of a 266.4 MW lithium-ion battery energy storage facility by M Star AG (M Star M. A. E.) on the Gurnez plot in the Domocos borough of Domocos, in the state of Vertida.
According to the "Environmental Conditions Approval" issued by the General Administration of Environmental Policy of the Ministry of the Environment, the project involves the construction and operation of an electric energy storage facility with a maximum injection power and a maximum absorption power of 266.4 MW. The facility covers a total area of 40,650 square meters, of which 22,496.62 square meters are not protected by forest law. The area required for the battery system (including the battery container and the energy conversion unit) is estimated to be 20,000 square meters. The power station will consist of 84 inverters rated at 3.2 MW, with a total output of 266.4 MW. 3.2 MW lithium-ion batteries (total 84 x 2 x 3=537.6 MWh) will be installed on both sides of each inverter. The power station output is 532.8 MWh.
The power storage facility is planned to be connected to the Skopia EHV substation (K.Y. T.) through a 10.24-kilometer underground medium voltage connection line. The connection has been granted an environmental permit in October 2023 for the construction of a solar power station with an initial capacity of 700 MW and a 33/400 kV booster station. It is owned by Enipeas Single Company Limited and is located in the communities of Calisea and Skopia in the municipal district of Naltakio, Larisa Province, Thessaly Region, and the communities of Manta and Filia East in the municipal district of Domocos, Futida, Central Greece Region. Subsequent modifications were made to reduce the total installed capacity from 700 MW to 560 MW and the maximum capacity from 630 MW to 504 MW, and to update the location of the UHV Central Station. It is reported that the facility does not need to be connected to other infrastructure networks (water supply, sewage, telecommunications).
The following work will be carried out during the construction phase: farmland boundary marking, vegetation clearance, fence construction, site leveling, electrical work, and battery installation. The construction work did not require additional civil engineering to complete the installation, so no ancillary facilities were planned. The project construction is not expected to generate large amounts of liquid or solid waste. During operation, the facility operates 7 days a week and 365 days a year. The electric energy storage facility does not require a fuel supply and will absorb energy from the grid and release it later. The energy ultimately released is reduced by losses in storage, retention, production (conversion and injection systems) and the facility's own consumption.
In terms of maintenance, the facility performs regular maintenance twice a year, unless a shorter cycle is required. In order to minimize the environmental risk caused by insufficient maintenance, the project party will implement a regular maintenance plan during the operation period, following the manufacturer's equipment maintenance requirements. The plan includes all equipment (such as battery containers, inverters, transformers, digital energy management systems, battery management systems, cooling and thermal management systems, etc.). Develop a detailed protocol for the maintenance plan to identify corrosion, damage or other failures (e. g. mechanical failure, overload) to prevent environmental risks. Detailed records shall be kept for each maintenance.
In addition, low-frequency (50Hz) non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation from medium-voltage transmission lines is expected during operation. But according to the instructions, "grounding will zero the electric field and will not pose a risk to public health". According to environmental permits, in order to ensure safety and efficiency during operation, a battery management system (BMS) must be equipped. Its functions include:(a) continuous monitoring of basic parameters (voltage, temperature, charging state of each cell or unit, etc.);(B) control of charging and discharging rates to prevent overcharging or deep discharging, avoiding battery damage and environmental risks;(c) ensure that the individual cells within the battery maintain similar voltage levels, equalize charge and extend life;(d) detect faults (e. g., short circuits) for immediate corrective action (e. g., disconnect the battery or activate the cooling system);(e) record and analyze data; and (f) provide effective remote monitoring and control capabilities.
M Star Pte Ltd was established in 2020. Subsequently, M Star and Z Star Pte Ltd have established links with French multinational group Recom. Recom has become one of the leaders in the global solar energy industry through Recom Technologies. The two companies launched large-scale photovoltaic power plant projects with a total capacity of 1,324 MW in Ftiotida, Gravena and Domocos in 2022. It is worth noting that the Recom Technologies has been active in the Greek market for many years. About M Star, Z Star and L Star companies, they are owned by ML Stars and are regarded as "a member of the global solar movement". In December 2025, M Star Pte Ltd was transformed into M Star GmbH with a share capital of € 13.29 million, under the chairmanship and CEO of Giannis Pilates Kostopoulos (he has been the Technologies CFO of Recm since July 2022).