pv-magazine.com
Astypalaia, an island in the Aegean Sea, has attracted attention in recent years because Volkswagen has selected it as a testbed for its smart mobility pilots. The German automaker and the Greek government launched a pilot project in 2021 to offer smart mobility services such as ride-sharing and car-sharing, based on electric vehicles. The smart mobility pilot will run for at least six years.
Critics have said that the island, which is home to about 1,500 permanent residents, still draws most of its electricity from diesel generators. However, that is now set to change.
PPC Renewables Chief Executive Konstantinos Mavros told pv magazine that construction of the solar-plus-storage plant is expected to start in about six months. The system will be fully operational in about 20 months and will cover half of Astypalaia’s electricity needs. Existing diesel generators will remain in place to power the rest of the island.