Solar power capacity could almost equal Temelín by year end: ministry

Around 1,650 MW of solar power capacity could come on line in the Czech Republic by the end of the year according to head of renewables at the Ministry of Industry and Trade. That total is approaches the current capacity of the Temelín nuclear power plant. Mr Pavel Gebauer said at a conference on Tuesday that this represented a pessimistic scenario of developments. Deputy head of the state-controlled high voltage grid network operator ČEPS, Petr Zeman, said 1,650 MW capacity was the maximum limit it had set until 2012 for all renewables, including both wind power and solar, if they grid was to remain stable and secure. The government last week took fresh steps to curb the ongoing solar power boom in the country.