Thessaloniki gets ready for its metro launch in November
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
The new installation will be able to power around 7,500 homes in the local area
A new floating photovoltaic (PV) system is about to join the electricity grid in Austria. However, as opposed to similar projects, floating at sea, the new PV farm in Grafenwörth will float on two open-pit gravel mining sites.
The floating solar farm is a project for the international energy company EVN and is scheduled for completion in spring 2023. The project cost around 22 million euros and will be able to power about 7,500 homes with green energy.
As a landlocked country, Austria has a somewhat unenviable position to make use of conventional renewable energies. Both wind farms and solar installations can benefit greatly from proximity to a sea or ocean, with constant and stable winds feeding wind turbines and clearing skies so PV systems get the most sunlight.
According to an official statement, Grafenwörth gets 1,500 hours of sunshine per year, with short-term averages going down in the winter. The installation is estimated to be able to produce 24.5 megawatt-hours of energy at peak production.
However, considering PV systems’ output fluctuates between days and nights, a press statement from EVN claims that the company will need to add more capacity with switching stations to balance the grid. Nevertheless, increasing renewable energy production is an important goal, as the company plans to expand its capacity to cover 60% of its output by 2034.
In terms of environmental impact, the floating farms in Grafenwörth have been co-designed by ECOwind, a company specializing in renewable energy systems. The solar panels themselves float, mounted on plastic containers. Moreover, they block sunlight from entering the former pits, preventing harmful algae formation. Another big advantage of the installation is that it will be cooled from below, which could keep critical electronic components working for longer.
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass
Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape
The examples, compiled by Beyond Fossil Fuels, can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition
Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin
The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU, national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality.
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
At least, that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo
Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region
Despite its church-y name, the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself
An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö
A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital