Solar Innovation: Germany Thinking of Harnessing Greece's Sunshine

As many of us are getting ready for winter, Germany is thinking about sunshine. It is considering a groundbreaking, social innovation 'green' project to harness the sun rays from Greece. If this project goes ahead, it will at the same time be a financial lifeline that debt stricken Greece needs, as it has been affected by the current global economic crisis.

The prospect of a German business reviving Greece's economy might be a little hard to imagine; however, the Greek debt crisis has thrown up opportunities. While Greece's widespread corruption, infamous bureaucracy and weak justice system have all played a major part in keeping foreign firms out, its government is hoping the country's abundant sunlight can attract German renewable energy companies. Greece could see foreign lenders help kick start Greece's recession-hit economy by developing a social innovation project called "Project Helios," named aptly after the sun god of Greek mythology. It is a solar power project of approximately 20,000 hectares, which will be used for exporting renewable energy to Germany.

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Sangeeta Haindl is a staff writer for Justmeans on Social Enterprise. When not writing for Justmeans, Sangeeta wears her other hat as a PR professional. Over the years, she has worked with high-profile organizations within the public, not-for-profit and corporate sectors; and won awards from her industry. She now runs her own UK consultancy: Serendipity PR & Media.