In a potentially major boost to Ukraine’s energy independence the operational solar power capacity in the country is expected to hit 1,000 megawatts by the end of this year.
At the end of last year, the operational solar power capacity in Ukraine stood at 568 megawatts with 107 megawatts of fresh addition in 2016. According to a recent report, 54 new solar power projects are set to be commissioned this year. These projects will add a cumulative capacity of 460 megawatts, thus taking the total operational capacity in the country to more than 1,000 megawatts.
Seven projects of more than 20 megawatts capacity, nine of more than 10 megawatts capacity and more over 20 projects of more than 5 megawatts capacity will be commissioned this year. A number of large-scale solar power projects, with more than 20 megawatts capacity, were commissioned last year. Additionally, more than 700 projects with less than 100 kilowatts capacity were also commissioned.
The planned 1,000 megawatts solar power park at Chernobyl is not believed to have been included in the estimates for this year. Two Chinese companies – GCL System Integration Technology (GCL-SI), a subsidiary of the GCL Group and China National Complete Engineering Corp (CCEC) – have announced plans to set up the project at Chernobyl.
Construction of the project shall be responsibility of China National Complete Engineering Corp while GCL System Integration Technology shall supply the solar power equipment and be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the project.
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