By installing a fully integrated automation system in one of Greece’s most important and productive agricultural regions, ABB is able to deliver a package of high-efficiency equipment, real-time telemetry and water quality monitoring to optimize operations.
Farsala, in the heart of Thessaly, approximately 300 kilometers north of Athens, is one of Greece's key agricultural regions. In a landscape shaped by irrigation-dependent farming, efficient water management is not just an operational priority but an economic lifeline for the local community.
The Municipality of Farsala has taken a decisive step toward automating the critical irrigation infrastructure, awarding ABB a contract to optimize its network with next-generation, high-efficiency systems and advanced digital monitoring capabilities. Co-funded by the EU’s European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and Greek national funds under the Rural Development Program 2014–2020, the project reflects a commitment to sustainable agricultural enhancement across Greece.
End-to-End Automation
What sets this project apart is its scope. Rather than replacing individual components, ABB is delivering a fully integrated automation system that spans the entire infrastructure lifecycle including engineering design, high-efficiency irrigation and energy management equipment, water nitrate monitoring, telemetry and remote-control systems, system integration, commissioning and personnel training. This turnkey approach means the Municipality of Farsala gains not just new hardware, but a connected, intelligent system that can operate independently from day one.
Crucially, the modernization will be carried out without disrupting ongoing irrigation operations, a key requirement in an agricultural region where seasonal continuity is essential. This ability to automate and upgrade critical public infrastructure while keeping it fully operational is a hallmark of ABB's service and automation expertise, combining global capability in automation and energy management with deep local knowledge of Greece's infrastructure landscape.
"This investment has delivered exactly what our community needed: lower energy costs and a more reliable irrigation system for our farmers," said Iordanis Eskioglou, Mayor of Farsala. "With EU support and ABB's expertise, we transformed infrastructure that is central to the local economy and took a decisive step toward more sustainable management of our irrigation water resources."
Supporting more sustainable agriculture and rural communities
Replacing the existing energy-intensive equipment with high-efficiency systems will directly reduce electricity consumption across the network. Smart telemetry eliminates the need for manual on-site checks, enabling faster fault response and lower operating costs. Nitrate monitoring provides automated alerts if water quality thresholds are exceeded, protecting both agricultural produce and local groundwater.
Combined, these elements form a digitally enabled energy ecosystem where operational data, network performance and water quality are continuously monitored and managed in real time.
"What made this project distinctive was the combination of next-generation equipment with real-time monitoring and remote control in a single, integrated scope," said John Kokotos, Local Division Manager, ABB, Energy Industries Division, Greece. "The Municipality of Farsala now has full visibility over energy consumption and network performance and the tools to act on it."
The contract between ABB and the Municipality of Farsala was signed in August 2024. The project has been successfully completed.
