Greece to Escape Debt Crisis by Exporting Solar Energy?
EU’s Energy Commissioner Günther Öttinger, the Director General for Energy Philip Löwe, and the head of the EU’s Athens task force Hörst Reichenbach are reported to be engaged in ongoing talks about the possibility of Greece partially exiting its debt crisis by exporting considerable amounts of solar energy to its creditors.
The idea of solar power helping Greece’s economical growth in the near future is being investigated as in how far it can be implemented.
“Several German companies have expressed interest in the idea but it would clearly be more interesting if several member states were involved,” a senior source told EurActiv.
According to EurActiv, Greece could benefit from investing in solar energy plants located in its own territories as well as from exports in other European countries but the whole scheme faces obstacles, such as those countries willingness to invest in Greece, bureaucracy difficulties of the country and lack of available capital.
German chancellor Angela Merkel had suggested earlier this month to import clean energy from countries such as Greece, in order for Germany to step out of the use of nuclear power, especially after the tremendous catastrophe of Fukushima in Japan.
German economy minister Phillip Rösler told the German broadcasting agency ZDF that his country wants to take German firms and investment opportunities to Greece. “In the spirit of solidarity, it is the task of all Europeans to help Greece get back on its feet economically” he added.
Last September, the Greek government had announced a lofty plan concerning the expansion of Greece’s solar power production, the so called Project Helios, which would require €20 billion investments and create between 30,000 and 60,000 new jobs in unemployment-suffering Greece.
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