Russia approves 460 MW of solar projects

The Russian Electricity Market Council has approved 460 MW of solar projects in 2015 but only a small number of the projects are expected to be built, according to analysts..

About 900 MW was approved over 2014 and 2013, but only a fraction was actually built or installed.

Regulations have meant that Russian solar power projects need use local materials, but with only a small number of solar panels being manufactured in Russia, installation has been minimal.

The director of Russia’s Solar Energy Association (RASE), Anton Usachiv, said the regulation will be good for boosting domestic solar technology production.

If all of the 460 MW of approved projects are awarded, it will mean that 1,360 megawatts has been awarded in Russia over the last three years.

Russia’s current installed solar power capacity is only 3 MW, according to the Apricum Group.