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Greece has entered the hydrogen mobility sector with the opening of its first public hydrogen refueling station. Located in Agioi Theodoroi near the Corinth refinery, the €3 million facility is operated by AVIN Oil, a subsidiary of Motor Oil Hellas. It is the first commercial hydrogen station in the country and one of the earliest in Southeastern Europe.
EU Co-Funding Backs the Project
The project is co-financed by the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) – Transport program, covering 50% of the total cost. It is the first hydrogen mobility project in Europe to receive this type of support. The station was built by Motor Oil’s in-house construction team and approved for public use after a full round of safety tests.
Imported Hydrogen Used Initially
Until domestic production begins, the hydrogen is sourced from Austria’s Wien Energie. Coral Gas, another Motor Oil subsidiary, handles delivery via road trailers. The fuel is stored on-site and dispensed using equipment that can serve both cars and heavy trucks.
Domestic Production to Begin in 2026
A 50MW green hydrogen production facility is under development at the nearby Corinth refinery. The first 30MW is already under construction, with an additional 20MW ordered from Sweden’s Metacon. The plant is scheduled to be operational by 2026 and will supply both the AVIN station and Motor Oil’s lubricants business, LPC.
The EU has approved €111.7 million in subsidies from the Greek government for the electrolyser project. Motor Oil plans to produce 60,000 tonnes of hydrogen and 25,000 tonnes of e-methanol by 2029.
Local Hydrogen Network Taking Shape
Motor Oil has announced plans for two additional stations—one in Akrata and one at the OSY public bus depot in Thriasio, west of Athens. These are fully funded and under development. Combined with Coral Gas’s hydrogen logistics and planned domestic production, a national hydrogen network is starting to take shape.
Fueling Early Fleet Trials
Initial deployment includes fleet trials supported by the EU-backed TRIERES program. OSY will operate 2–3 hydrogen buses in Athens. Loutraki municipality and Olympia Odos are also set to run pilot vehicles. A wider public tender is underway, which includes a plan for up to 50 hydrogen buses out of a total 400 being procured.
Regulatory Shift Enables Expansion
Until recently, Greece had no legal framework for hydrogen refueling or vehicle registration. Early projects relied on foreign-plated vehicles. The launch of the AVIN station signals a transition to more permanent, regulated hydrogen mobility infrastructure.
Pricing and Market Outlook
Hydrogen at the station is currently sold at €15 per kilogram, with an average range of 100 kilometers per kilogram in standard fuel cell vehicles. Prices are expected to decline as local supply and demand scale up.
Strategic Move, Not a Token Launch
Hydrogen Europe CEO Jorgo Chatzimarkakis emphasized the strategic significance: “Hydrogen is not just a climate solution – it is a chance for robust energy security and innovation.” While other EU-backed projects—such as Luxembourg’s idle hydrogen station—have struggled post-launch, Greece’s project is already linked to a broader national rollout.
