Renewable energy in Greece

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search

Renewable energy in Greece accounted for 8% of the country's total energy consumption in 2008.[1] 12% of Greece's electricity comes from Hydroelectric power plants[2]

Wind power

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Wind power was due to expand[when?] by 352% by 2010 to meet the European target of 20% coverage of energy needs from renewable sources. Previously,[when?] there were 1,028 wind turbines installed throughout Greece and the number was set to reach 2,587 wind turbines before the end of 2010.[3]

According to the Ministry of Environment and Public Works, the system would have a nameplate capacity of 3,372 MW of power from wind alone[when?] compared to 746 MW at the end of 2006.[4] Greece chose to invest primarily to wind power by 77%, while the rest of renewable sources altogether comprise the remaining 23% of production with hydroelectric power being second with 11%.[5][6]

Solar power

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

File:Solar tracker in Lixouri.jpg
Photovoltaic solar tracker in Lixouri
Solar insolation in Greece

The solar energy development in Greece started in 2006 and increased substantially from 2009 because of the high feed-in tariffs introduced and the corresponding regulations for domestic applications of PVs on rooftops.[citation needed] However this mechanism overheated the market creating a big deficit of more than 500 million euros in the Greek "Operator of Electricity Market".[citation needed]

From August 2012 new regulations have been introduced including a temporary tax imposed to all operating PV plants (excluding residential applications), licensing of new PV projects have been put on halt and the feed-in tariffs were drastically reduced.[7]

As of December 2013, the total installed photovoltaic capacity in Greece reached 2,419.2 MWp [8] of which 987.2 MWp were installed in the period between January–September 2013 despite the financial crisis.[9] Greece ranks 5th worldwide with regard to per capita installed PV capacity. It is expected that PV produced energy will cover up to 7% of the country's electricity demand in 2014.[10]

References