About Protheus project

The Municipality of Paks City as the project owner is responsible for the supervision of the implementation of the project development tasks, while the Protheus Holding plc and its subsidiaries are responsible for the operative management related to the tasks to be performed.

During the project development the Municipality of Paks is responsible for the following:

• supervising the project development,
• providing the central premise for the Smart Grid Center,
• keeping in contact with municipalities in the surrounding area,
• supervising the project management organization (Protheus Holding plc),
• szakmai szolgáltatások szervezése, ha szükséges,
• information and good practice exchange with the local public transport companies.

The aim of the „Protheus Project” is to build up a sustainable e-mobility system, produce renewable electricity, and store that energy for the use by the city of Paks and the surrounding Municipalities. The projects’ main goal is the creation of a healthier, more energy-efficient and inhabitant friendlier city.

Appellation of the project

In Greek mythology, Proteus is an early sea-god or god of rivers and oceanic bodies of water, one of several deities whom Homer calls the “Old Man of the Sea”. Some who ascribe to him a specific domain call him the god of “elusive sea change”, which suggests the constantly changing nature of the sea or the liquid quality of water in general. He can foretell the future, but, according to myths familiar to several cultures, he will change his shape to avoid having to do so; he will answer only to someone who is capable of capturing him. From this feature of Proteus comes the adjective protean, with the general meaning of “versatile”, “mutable”, “capable of assuming many forms”. “Protean” has positive connotations of flexibility, versatility and adaptability.

ELENA is a joint initiative by the European Investment Bank and the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 program. ELENA provides grants regarding technical assistance focused on the implementation of energy efficiency, renewable energy distribution and urban transport projects and programs.

The grant can be used to finance costs related to feasibility and market studies, program structuring, business plans, energy audits and financial structuring, as well as to the preparation of tendering procedures, contractual arrangements and project implementation units.

The ELENA facility is led by a team of experts consisting of engineers and economists with extensive experience in the transport and energy sector. Established in 2009, the ELENA facility has awarded around EUR 100 million of EU support triggering an estimated investment of around EUR 4 billion on the ground.