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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Discussion about renewable energy in Greece – new technologies, best practices and more

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Cleantech Geek

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My latest online discussion (in Greek, unfortunately for my non-greek speaking visitors) with Mr. Pougaridis on e-ptolemeos.gr – one of the largest news agencies in Western Macedonia. The discussion revolves around renewable energy in Greece; More specifically we talk about the best practises in the industry based on the European and UK model, the role of resistance from local communities on adoptation of renewables, new technologies such as energy storage and the growing importance of renewables in areas where coal is phased out, like West Macedonia in Greece.

Please watch the video and leave your comments below! For more Cleantech videos don’t forget to subscribe to my channel!

Combining articles, videos and podcasts we intent to provide the stage for creative thinking and constructive discussions. Cleantech Geek Blog

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Inside Cleantech – S2E3 – A Climate Change Engineering Startup Story

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Cleantech Geek

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

At this series we discuss with experts, senior executives and influencers from the Cleantech and Renewable Energy Industry as well as from the Entrepreneurship and Investment World. Find out about their opinions on the future of Green Entech and Cleantech, get their insights on opportunities & risks, discover the secrets of successful businesses & ventures, learn from their successes and failures.

“A Climate Change Engineering Startup Story”

On this interview, I am discussing with Mr John Davies, Founder of 2DEGREESKELVIN. John, shares with us his story and his decision to start an innovative Climate Change Engineering Company offering speciallised services and testing to the solar enery industry. With years of experience on the field and hands-on problem solving skills John and I discuss about the challenges in the services sector, common failures and mistakes the industry did during cinstruction and lessons learned. We also expand on subsidies and the current CFD round in the UK. Finally John gives us his opinion on service pricing and digitalisation of the O&M activities. This episode was filmed with ZOOM in an isolation environment due to COVID-19 pandemic. Don’t miss John’s personal story on how he took the brave decision to create his company, his insights on the services within the Solar sector and the challenges that COVID-19 brings to startups and the sector.

Please watch the video and leave your comments below! Don’t forget to subscribe and like!

Combining articles, video and podcasts we intent to provide the stage for creative thinking and constructive discussions. Cleantech Geek Blog

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Data analysis is set to transform the energy industry – 4 applications that lead this change

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

Data analysis can be deployed across the whole energy value chain, regardless of the size of the asset. From large utility scale sites to residential solar and storage, leveraging the power of data drastically cuts costs, enhances the useful life of the asset and saves valuable time to the owner and managing team.

Currently information flow is fractured and involves multiple stakeholders, exchange of endless spreadsheets and one-way, data deprived reporting processes. The main problem is the high volume of low quality, unvalidated data; distributed through various channels, their value is not unfolded, and they are perceived as an additional responsibility, instead of a valuable tool in the hands of O&Ms, Asset Managers and local councils.

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