Greece has grand plans for an interconnector network that runs from the Middle East through to the heart of Europe. pv magazine examines the latest developments on the road to a Mediterranean super grid and what it might mean for the regions involved.

Greece installed 1.59 GW of solar in 2023, bringing the country’s cumulative PV capacity to 7.1 GW by the end of December.

Official data from the Electricity Authority of Israel show that the country installed 1,108 MW of new solar capacity in 2023. Renewable energy covered 12.5% of Israel’s electricity demand last year.

Electricity market liberalization and private sector development of solar and energy storage in Cyprus continue to be delayed. pv magazine’s Ilias Tsagas looks at why independent power producers are frustrated by electricity curtailment and a lack of market reform.

The Greek authorities have awarded 300 MW of new battery storage capacity in the nation’s second energy storage tender, split among 11 projects. The tender is part of the country’s 1 GW energy storage auction program.

The European Commission says Greece’s new subsea electricity interconnection linking the island of Crete to mainland Greece will receive more than €250 million ($269.3 million) from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

The Transmission System Operator of Cyprus (TSOC) predicts that transmission and distribution grid operators will need to curtail 28% of the nation’s annual green energy production in 2024.

The Lebanese parliament has ratified a new law that allows peer-to-peer renewable energy trading between private sector entities, in addition to enshrining net metering in the country’s legal system for the first time.

Greece aims to support the development of new, locally operated renewable energy communities with about €42 million ($45.7 million) of new funds.

The Greek government and Masdar have agreed to develop 7 MW of solar on Poros Island as part of the “GR-Eco Islands” initiative. However, the authorities and Abu Dhabi-based renewables developer have not disclosed the project costs.