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Limited fossil resources, the continuous increment in fuel prices and severe environmental problems require new sustainable electricity generation options, which utilize renewable energies. Solar photovoltaic generation is a proven renewable energy technology and has the potential to become cost-effective in the future, for it produces electricity from the solar radiation. In Ghana, the electricity demand is rapidly increasing at a rate of 10% annually. In the attempt to change the conventional energy intensive economical development and its negative impact on the environment, the government has begun to support the development of the solar photovoltaic technology strongly. In this paper, the state of solar photovoltaic, the challenges facing the industry, the potential of the technology, the policies and strategies to promote development of the technology have been presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The aim of the study was to present the current status of the electrical energy market, energy legislation, green house gas emissions, energy consumption trends and future prospects of sustainable development in Greece. The study described current issues relevant to the renewable energy sources (RES) such as the climatic factors that affect the penetration of RES into the Greek energy mix, the current regulation status, the barriers and evaluation of their contribution in the energy balance. The study also investigated the increasing power demand, emissions and energy trends in the residential sector in Greece. The paper evaluated the current status of the building stock, RES and the future energy related prospects of the Aegean Sea islands. The islands were categorized based on energy production cost, heating degree days, building characteristics and natural resources to identify islands with higher and lower renewable energy potentials. The study revealed that the islands with the higher potential energy savings in the residential sector are Lesbos, Lemnos, Samothrace, Chios, Andros, Patmos, Kea and Kimolos while at the same time, Rhodes, Naxos, Amorgos, Syros, Ios and Kythnos are those islands that present the lower potential. The study will help to propose action plans and implementation strategies in terms of residential renewable energy applications in non-grid interconnected islands in Greece. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]