Photovoltaics in combination with livestock farming

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Written by Aggeliki Marinou, environmental specialist at Wattcrop.

The combination of agriculture-livestock farming with photovoltaic parks is widely known abroad and has begun to be incorporated in Greek society, as the need to protect biodiversity, combined with energy efficiency is essential. More specifically, photovoltaic parks can be allocated for grasslands and wildflower meadows, which provide habitats for pollinators, birds and wildlife, as well as for sheep grazing.

The site is suitably landscaped so that animals can live in harmony with photovoltaic panels. The bases of the photovoltaic panels are placed at an appropriate height so as not to obstruct the passage of grazing animals and to ensure that there are passages for the passage of animals through the park.

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Floating photovoltaics, a smart technology!

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Let’s meet the floating photovoltaics!

Written by Giannis Taousanidis, electrical engineer at Wattcrop

Solar photovoltaic power is an essential pillar in the efforts to addressing climate change. PVs are widely used, due to their easy installation and low maintenance. Over the years, we have seen a vast amount of PVs installed on rooftops or on the ground, when it comes to larger scale production. 

But this does not have to be the case. It is feasible, nowadays, to install PVs on the surface of water reservoirs, lakes and even seas and oceans under the right conditions. The solar panels are mounted on platforms floating on the water surface. 

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Geographic Information Systems (G.I.S.) & Renewable Energy Sources

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Written by Margarita Kyrkou, surveyor and gis specialist at Wattcrop.

What is GIS system?

The need for spatial data has been known to spatial scientists since antiquity. The rapid development of technology led to the solution of the problem, with the emergence of Geographic Information Systems or GIS. The GIS system models space by gathering and combining a wealth of information. It has a database of geographic data and at the same time includes a database of descriptive data linked to the spatial data.

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Agrivoltaics: a sustainable solution combining RES and agriculture

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Written by Aggeliki Marinou, environmental specialist at Wattcrop

The main threat facing our planet is the impact of climate change. There is a need to redefine the way that we find, use and conserve energy and natural resources, as they are key to slowing down climate change and can lead our planet to more sustainable development. A massive shift to clean energy systems and a greater use of renewable energy sources is strongly recommended. 

In recent years there has been a rapid growth and demand for photovoltaic projects. Photovoltaic technology due to its smart structure, cost reduction, long lifetime and improved efficiency plays an important role in the transition to a low-carbon society. However, land-based PV farms are competing with the food production sector in terms of land coverage. Innovative solutions have already been implemented to implement photovoltaic systems while reducing land use. Photovoltaic systems on buildings that make use of existing building surfaces, floating photovoltaic systems use the existing water surface and agricultural systems use agricultural land are some examples. 

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5 factors that affect the productivity of a solar park

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What affects the productivity of a solar park?

Written by Giannis Taousanidis, electrical engineer at Wattcrop

Solar parks, but also RES investments in general, are the key to a sustainable future. But what are the important aspects to consider when designing and installing a PV project? What are the main factors that affect the productivity of a solar park and ensure that we have the maximum return on our investment?

In this article, we attempt to provide useful information to current and future producers and prosumers about their solar park productivity and efficiency.

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Σταθερότητα και διαφάνεια, καταλύτες για την ανάπτυξη των ΑΠΕ

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Του Υπάτιου Μωυσιάδη

Πολλά ερωτηματικά κυρίως στην διεθνή επιχειρηματική κοινότητα, που έχει εμπιστευτεί ξανά την χώρα μας, έχουν δημιουργήσει τόσο οι συνεχείς αλλαγές στους ισχύοντες νόμους και διατάξεις που διέπουν τις ΑΠΕ όσο και οι ανακοινώσεις των πολιτικών ηγεσιών στην ΔΕΘ.

Ειδικότερα, ο τελευταίος νόμος περί προτεραιοτήτων για την έκδοση όρων σύνδεσης αλλά και η εφαρμογή απευθείας φόρου στην παραγωγή (2ευρώ ανά MWh) για τα έργα που συνάπτουν διμερή συμβόλαια έχει δημιουργήσει έντονο κλίμα δυσαρέσκειας και ανησυχίας.

Μπορεί οι αρχικές προθέσεις και η ανάγκη να μπούν όρια στην προτεραιότητα στον ηλεκτρικό χώρο να ήταν σωστές, παρόλα αυτά το αποτέλεσμα δεν ήταν το αναμενόμενο από την αγορά.

Ξεκάθαρα προτεραιότητες θα πρέπει να παίρνουν έργα με υπογεγραμμένα διμερή συμβόλαια (PPAs). Τα έργα αυτά είναι μη επιδοτούμενα, άρα δεν επιβαρύνουν τον κρατικό προϋπολογισμό αλλά και βοηθούν άμεσα την βιομηχανία και τους καταναλωτές με χαμηλές σταθερές χρεώσεις σε βάθος δεκαετίας.

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Το πολύπαθο χωροταξικό σχέδιο για τις Ανανεώσιμες Πηγές Ενέργειας – Κύρια σημεία διαφωνίας

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Του Υπάτιου Μωυσιάδη

Θα πρέπει κάποτε στην χώρα μας να μάθουμε ότι δεν χρειάζεται να ανακαλύπτουμε ξανά τον τροχό για θέματα που άλλες, πιο ώριμες αγορές του εξωτερικού έχουν ήδη επιλύσει. Χώρες όπως η Γερμανία και η Ισπανία, με πολλά GW ανανεώσιμων πηγών ενέργειας ήδη σε λειτουργία,  εφαρμόζουν πλέον καλές πρακτικές που απορρέουν από τα λάθη και την πολύχρονη εμπειρία τους στον χώρο.

Μεγάλη παραφιλολογία και λαϊκισμός έχει ανθίσει γύρω από την χωροθέτηση των ΑΠΕ. Τις περισσότερες φορές με επιχειρηματολογία αστοιχείωτη.

Αν και το τελικό σχέδιο-πρόταση δεν έχει γίνει ακόμη γνωστό από τους αρμόδιους φορείς και ούτε έχει τεθεί σε δημόσια διαβούλευση, έχουν διαρρεύσει στοιχεία του και ήδη ο ειδικός τύπος έχει δημοσιεύσει σχετικά άρθρα.

Παρακάτω παραθέτουμε τα κύρια σημεία στα οποία εντοπίζουμε ζητήματα.

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Why Energy Storage?

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Image:ecopress.gr

Written by Christos Kougevetopoulos, head of operations at Wattcrop.

Following the escalating energy crisis in Europe, renewable energy has been a point of focus to help resolve the current situation and provide a safe buffer to the current energy mix. The advantages of renewable energy with regards to providing solutions to the problem are already known, with the main one being the ability for quick deployment and production of clean energy relatively quickly when compared to other forms of energy production. Deployment of such projects also contributes towards a carbo-neutral economy and ensuring the ambitious renewable energy target for the EU of 32% by 2030 is met, or more ambitious targets that are now being considered per the below graph.

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Latest Greek auction points to future market realities

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Cleantech Geek
Be Bold. Make the Change. Have a meaningful Impact.

Written by Jon McNair | ENERGY REV

First published here • JUNE 28, 2021

Latest Greek auction points to future market realities

The steady reduction in the price of winning tariffs in successive rounds of Greek renewables auctions, capped by the most recent edition in May, has the potential to realign the market in the country.

Over successive auctions held over recent years, Greece has followed most other countries in registering incremental drops in the tariffs awarded to successful projects. 

And May’s (2021) latest 350MW edition of the Greek programme was no exception as successful bid prices dipped down to an average of EUR 37.60/MWh, although falling as far as EUR 32.97 in the case of one project: a 19.3MW solar farm developed by local group Egnatia. 

Other successful bidders included Lightsource bp, in a collaboration with another local developer Kiefer TEK, which secured 20-year contracts for 140MW of solar PV capacity at an average price of EUR 38.50/MWh. Meanwhile, Mytilineos also bagged tariffs for 140MW of solar, at a slightly lower average rate of EUR 37/MWh. 

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Cero Generation and Wattcrop form joint venture to develop Greek solar energy portfolio

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Today marks a significant milestone for all of us here at cleantechgeek.com, our main company Wattcrop has successfully formed a Joint Venture with Cero Generation, a Macquarie Green Investment Group portfolio company. Our purpose to drive Renewable Energy and Storage Assets mainly to the Greek and but also to other European markets. Combining financial strength, knowhow and local expertise we are setting ambitious targets to develop more than 750MW in the next few years just on the Greek market alone. Please find below the official Press Release:

Monday, 12th of July 2021

  • Cero Generation and Wattcrop announce a new joint venture partnership to develop an extensive portfolio of solar PV projects in Greece.
  • The partners are targeting the development of   750 MW of capacity over the next four years.
  • The joint venture marks Cero’s entry into the Greek market. With more than 8 GW under development across 150 projects, Cero is home to one of Europe’s largest solar development portfolios.
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