Solar power in Cyprus

Solar power in Cyprus is more available than in almost all of the rest of the Europe. The Cypriot target of solar power including both photovoltaics and concentrated solar power is a combined 7% of electricity by 2020, which will be one of the top ones in the European Union markets. Respective targets are Spain 8%, Germany 7%, Greece 5%, Portugal 4% and Malta 1%.[1]

Solar potential of Cyprus

Solar heating is the usage of solar energy to provide space or water heating. Solar heating per capita in 2010 was the highest in Cyprus of all European countries: 611 W per capita. Corresponding value was in other top EU countries: Austria 385, Greece 253 and Germany 120. In 2010 this capacity was the lowest in the EU, with high unused domestic energy opportunities, in Finland 4, Latvia 3, Estonia 1 and Lithuania 1. Correspondingly the value was in a Scandinavian country Denmark 68.[2]

Photovoltaics installed[2][3]
YearInstalled
(MWp)		Total
(MWp)		Generation
(GWh)
20091.13.32.9
20102.96.25.6
20113.810.112.0
20127.217.320.0
201317.534.845.8
201430.064.8104.0
Source: PV Barometer[4]

The EAC (Electricity Authority of Cyprus) reported that 2,196 households installed rooftop solar panels in the first 7 months of 2020, despite the global COVID-19 pandemic and the associated financial, economic, and social disturbance. Whilst this is on track to be the highest number of installations in a year (previously it was 5,083 systems installed in 2014), 2020 is also set to smash the previous record for added capacity, which currently sits at 15.3MW. This record was also achieved in 2014.  

The total number of households with photovoltaics sits at 16,546 as of September 2020.[5] The solar energy and installation companies can be found in all of the major cities throughout the island, including Nicosia (the capital), Limassol, Larnaca, and Paphos.

Despite the seemingly optimistic outlook for solar power in Cyprus, the overall government response to the EU's Renewable Energy Directive has been less than stellar. Cyprus’ National Energy and Climate Plan for the period 2021-2030 was sent back a number of times as being inadequate. There have also been claims from government officials about fudging data in order to meet the RES targets for 2020.[6]

Largest PV power plants
Name of PlantPeak capacity
(MW)		Start of operationNotes
Vassiliko Cement Works Photovoltaic Park[7]82020Located in the Amalas area covers approximately 10% of Vassiliko Cement Works needs in electricity.

See also

References
  1. EWEA March 2011
  2. Photovoltaic energy barometer 2011 – EurObserv’ER
  3. Photovoltaic Barometer 2012
  4. EUROBSER'VER (April 2015). "Photovoltaic Barometer - installations 2013 and 2014" (PDF). energies-renouvelables.org. pp. 7–10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 May 2015.
  5. "Solar Power & Photovoltaic Energy | Limassol Cyprus". Limassol Solar. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  6. Ellinas, Dr Charles. "Greece's green evolution, Cyprus going backwards | Cyprus Mail". https://cyprus-mail.com/. Retrieved 2020-09-18. External link in |website= (help)
  7. "VASSILIKO CEMENT WORKS PHOTOVOLTAIC PARK NOW LIVE" (PDF). Vassiliko Cement. Vassiliko Cement Works. Retrieved 25 August 2020.


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