New ground for solar power in Belarus
In April 2016, the telecommunications company Velcom, a subsidiary of the Austrian company Telecom, announced an investment of more than EUR 23 million for the construction of a photovoltaic (PV) power plant with 22,3 MWp. The PV power plant will be constructed in cooperation with the LSG group, an Austrian company for building equipment and appliances, and is located in Belarus (Brahin district) at a distance of about 150 km from Chernobyl.
30 years after the nuclear accident the area is unfit for human habitation, agriculture or forestry, however the low-cost land is well suited for the usage for a solar power plant.
Velcom is planning to cover up to 50% of its own use by the generated electricity, part of the generated electricity will be sold. The planned solar facility will comprise 85.000 PV panels covering an area of 56 hectares.
Source: pv magazine 27 July 2016, LSG-Group 30 August 0216