Germany is a shining light in green power

German solar power plants produced a record 22 gigawatts of electricity last weekend.

German solar power plants produced a record 22 gigawatts of electricity last weekend. Norbert Allnoch, director of the Institute of the Renewable Energy Industry in Munster, said the solar power fed into the national grid on Saturday met nearly half of the nation's midday electricity needs.

A third of needs were also met on Friday, he said.

Germany, which leads the way in European solar power, is concentrating on renewable energy after closing eight nuclear power plants and vowing to scrap the remaining nine by 2020.

"Never before anywhere has a country produced as much photovoltaic electricity," Mr Allnoch said. "Germany came close to the 20 gigawatt mark a few times in recent weeks. But this was the first time we made it over."

Government support for renewable energy has helped Germany became a world leader in the sector. The country gets about a fifth of its overall annual electricity from those sources.

The 22GW figure is equivalent to the power output of 20 nuclear plants.

Britain's ambition for total solar generation by 2020 is also 22GW.

From The Daily Telegraph

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