The intense post-Alpine activity in Greece during Neogene and Quaternary had as a result the formation of many intermontane and paralic basins. The largest Greek lignite deposits were formed from Neogene to Pleistocene in intermontane basins (Ptolemais, Florina, Drama, Megalopolis) while the lignite deposits of paralic origin are smaller in thickness and size. Around 67% of the exploited Greek coal deposits are located in Florina-Ptolemais-Servia basin in west Macedonia while Megalopolis deposit in Peloponnesus peninsula, in southern Greece is also under exploitation. Lignite is mined in open pits and is used mainly for electricity production (~ 62-63% of the total energy demands).The objective of the present doctoral thesis is to study the behavior of lignites coming from the main Greek lignite basins under pyrolysis conditions. We emphasized on the effect the macroscopic and coal petrographic characteristics have on the pyrolysis mechanisms and also studied the liberation of CO, CO 2 , H 2 , CH 4 and Ν 2 during open system non-isothermal pyrolysis. A number of analytic methods such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Rock Eval II pyrolysis and thermal analyses (TG/DTA) were also performed in an effort to collect more data and investigate the correlations between them. Samples were taken from exploration wells in two basins: the Florina-Ptolemais-Servia basin (deposits of Komanos, Klidi, Proastio, Prosilio and Notio Pedio) in W. Macedonia and the Megalopolis basin (deposits of Kyparissia and Marathousa) in Peloponnesus, where the main Greek coal deposits are located and exploited by the Greek Public Power Corporation (P.P.C.). According to macroscopic observations matrix lignite is the dominant lithotype for samples coming from Komanos, Proastio and Notio Pedio while those of Klidi and Prosilio can be of either xylitic or matrix lithotype. On the other hand, samples from Kyparissia and Marathousa mostly belong to the mineral rich lithotype.Proximate analysis included the determination of moisture, ash and volatile matter while the calorific value of lignites was also measured. In samples from W. Macedonia moisture 'as received' ranges from 31.0-64.5%, ash on dry basis is 8.7-45.5%, volatile matter on dry basis range from 37.2% to 58.5% and calorific value on an ash-free dry basis is 3,851-6,735 kcal/kg. In lignites from Megalopolis 'as received' moisture range from 38.9-67.3%, and ash on dry basis is 28.4% to 48.5%. Volatile matter on a dry basis range from 33.7% to 46.8% and calorific value on an ash-free dry basis is around 2,473-4,897 kcal/kg.x During ultimate analysis the percentage of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen was determined. For the lignites of W. Macedonia the above values range from 32.3-59.3%, 2.5-5.9%, 0.5-2.2%, 0.4-3.9% and 13.0-34.3% respectively, while for the Megalopolis lignites the values are 17.2-42.4%, 2.0-3.8%, 0.9-1.5%, 2.6-5.6% and 10.2-28.8% respectively. From the proximate and ultimate results it was concluded that samples from W.Macedonia are classifi...