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06.10.2011 14:27

Greece: Papandreu to Allow Mega Solar Power Investment

The generated energy will be then exported to Northern Europe, with exports to Germany reaching 10,000-15,000MW's according to Papandreou

AUTHOR: publics.bg

© pchow98@flickr.com

Greece's Prime Minister, Giorgos Papandreou held talks in Berlin regarding a huge solar power project in Greece, which will be capable of filling the energy gap that will be left by Angela Merkel's decision to phase out nuclear production in the wake of the Fukushima disaster, balkans.com reported.

The solar project Helios will include the installation of photovoltaic panels on a 20,000 hectares area of depleted lignite mines near the northern Greek city of Kozani. The project is expected to attract some EUR 20bn (USD 27bn) worth of investment, it will create some 30,000-60,000 new jobs and will make the country a pioneer in solar energy production. The generated energy will be then exported to Northern Europe, with exports to Germany reaching 10,000-15,000MW's according to Papandreou.

Although Greece has failed in previous attempts to take advantage of such an abundant source of energy, Papandreou is committed to overcome the corruption and bureaucracy that surrounds the Greek system in order to allow such investment for the benefit of the country. Greece is privileged to enjoy about 300 days of sunlight each year, twice as much strong sunlight as Germany, yet the country produces 80 times less solar energy, according to Greece's Environment Minister, Giorgos Papakonstantinou.