European Commission approves French solar, hydropower schemes

The European Commission on Friday announced it had approved three French schemes to support solar and hydropower energy generators in the country.

The schemes include two solar projects, which have a provisional budget of 439 million euros ($466 million) per year, and a hydropower projects, which has a provisional budget of 25 million euros ($26 million) per year, Xinhua quoted the Commission as saying.

These schemes will help France develop around 2,600 megawatts of additional solar capacity and 60 megawatts of additional hydropower capacity.

According to the Commission, one solar scheme supports operators of small-scale solar installations of less than 100 kilowatts (kw) in size, while the other will go for operators of larger solar installations whose sizes are between 100 and 250 kw and above 250 kW.

The beneficiaries of the support schemes for larger solar installations and new hydropower plants will be selected through tenders, it said.

The Commission said these projects would help France achieve its 2020 target to produce 23 percent of its energy from renewable sources which are in line with the environmental objectives of the European Union.

--IANS

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