The interactive on-line Photovoltaic Geographical
Information System (PVGIS), developed by the European Commission's in-house
scientific service, DG Joint Research Centre, allows users to estimate solar
energy performance at any given location in Europe.
This research, reported by Solutions Site website, shows that an identical solar
system will generate twice as much energy in sunny areas of Europe,
such as Malta and Southern Spain, than in areas such as Scotland or
Northern Scandinavia. These tools are invaluable as the EU seeks to
increase the share of renewable energies in its consumption to 20% in
2020.
While the solar energy potential of
Southern Europe is higher than Northern Europe, the interactive information
service map allows very specific calculation of the amount of energy that can
be generated in any given location in Europe
and its neighbouring regions. This calculation is based on knowledge of the
sun's energy, geographic distribution, the different terrain across Europe and detailed technological analysis of the
available photovoltaic technologies.
It also shows that considerable potential
exists in Europe for greater use of solar
energy.
In addition to the map and the interactive
service, the Photovoltaic Geographical Information System provides a wealth of
information about the development of photovoltaic technology, such as figures
on its share of total national electricity consumption in each Member State,
up-to-date research on photovoltaics and links to world-wide databases of solar
technology and data.
The new Photovoltaic Geographical
Information System is a powerful tool for the development of new solar power
plants, such as the PS10 Concentrating Solar Power palnt in Seville,
Southern Spain.
Research is an important element in efforts
to increase renewable energy generation., the website said. The European Commission has supported
the creation of a European Photovoltaic Technology Platform, which mobilises
industry, academia, regulators, financial institutions, and all others with an
interest in developing European leadership in photovoltaics.
The Technology Platform has designed a
Strategic Research Agenda in which the main research and technological
development issues for the sector over the next decade are addressed. These
include the various technologies for harnessing solar energy, efficiency,
storage and distribution to the grid.
%2C%20developed%20by%20the%20European%20Commission%27s%20in-house%0Ascientific%20service%2C%20DG%20Joint%20Research%20Centre%2C%20allows%20users%20to%20estimate%20solar%0Aenergy%20performance%20at%20any%20given%20location%20in%20Europe.%0A%0A%0A%26nbsp%3B%0A%0A%0A%0A%0A%3Cp%3E%0AThis%20research%20shows%20that%20an%20identical%20solar%0Asystem%20will%20generate%20twice%20as%20much%20energy%20in%20sunny%20areas%20of%20Europe%2C%0Asuch%20as%20Malta%20and%20Southern%20Spain%2C%20than%20in%20areas%20such%20as%20Scotland%20or%0ANorthern%20Scandinavia.%20These%20tools%20are%20invaluable%20as%20the%20EU%20seeks%20to%0Aincrease%20the%20share%20of%20renewable%20energies%20in%20its%20consumption%20to%2020%25%20in%0A2020.%20%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E&topic=world_news){kind=link}