Solar power could be “lifeline” for European coal regions – study
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Solar power could “fully substitute” coal-fired power generation in European coal regions in transition, according to by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre. Researchers analysed the potential for PV solar on mining sites, rooftops and agricultural land in the European regions where open-cast coal mines are to be shut down and found that, as a whole, they could generate enough power to replace coal in the regions. In Germany - where coal still makes up more than a third of all power production - close to 120 terawatt hours (TWh) of solar power could be generated - slighty over half of the 228.7 TWh produced from coal in the entire country last year.
Europe-wide, the researchers estimate that installing 580 gigawatts of solar capacity could provide 135,000 construction jobs per year over the next 15 years. Mining companies are responsible for restoring former open-cast mines, and installing PV arrays on them would make use of the fact that they tend to be close to grid infrastructure already in place for coal-fired power plants.
A government coal exit commission recommended ending coal-fired power generation in Germany by 2038 at the latest. Now, the government coalition must decide how to implement the non-binding proposal and draft necessary legislation.