Ten solar farms with a combined capacity of 26.7 MW are being planned across Cyprus, with environmental studies for all ten completed and submitted for public consultation. Some of the installations will also include energy storage capacity.
The projects span sites from Larnaca to Limassol, Nicosia and Paphos. Several fall on agricultural land, a issue that has previously drawn objections in parliament on the grounds that the land could, under certain conditions, be used for farming.
Proponents argue the farms will make a significant contribution to renewable energy targets and reduce both conventional fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions. Some plots also fall within other planning zones.
The ten planned installations, their locations and capacities are:
- Avdellero, Larnaca district: 1.43 MW
- Kornos, Larnaca district: 3.8 MW
- Milia, Paphos: 1,547 KW
- Agia Varvara, Nicosia: 1.20 MW
- Pachna, Limassol: 2.5 MW
- Anogyra, Limassol: 1.5 MW
- Lania, Limassol: 2 MW
- Dromolaxia, Larnaca: 2.76 MW
- Tersefanou, Larnaca: 2 MW
- Tseri, Nicosia: 7.99 MW
Tseri: the largest site
The largest installation, both in capacity and land area, will be built in Tseri, covering 90,497 square metres. The site sits approximately 1,140 metres from the Tseri municipal residential area. Nine of the plots earmarked for the project fall within planning zone Ga4, designated as agricultural land, while parts of two further plots fall within zone Da2, a protection zone. Completing the installation will require 14,014 solar panels.
Kornos: protected land and a nearby residence
The second largest farm, planned for Kornos with a capacity of up to 3.8 MW across 46,538 square metres, raises its own set of land-use questions. According to its environmental impact assessment, the plots fall within planning zone Z1, a protection zone that covers archaeological sites, areas of natural beauty, forests, protected landscapes, landforms, fertile and irrigated land, and rivers.
The site sits approximately 550 metres northwest of the Kornos municipal boundary. The nearest individual residence is approximately 55 metres from the project boundary. Neighbouring communities include Pyrga Larnacas, approximately 14 metres to the northeast, Delikipos at 3.7 kilometres, and Mosfiloti at 2.8 kilometres. A stone-crushing unit also operates in the wider area.
The plots currently support scattered olive trees, wild vegetation and cereal cultivation. Trees around the perimeter will be retained for use by local bird life. The western boundary of the site adjoins the old Nicosia-Limassol road, with the A1 motorway a further 80 metres to the west.
One solar farm in the area has already received a positive environmental opinion from the Department of Environment.
The Kornos farm will include an energy storage system with a capacity of 3 MW/12 MWh. The system will be fully automated and managed by a central monitoring system, with annual output estimated at 8,200 MWh.
The third largest planned installation is at Dromolaxia, Larnaca, with a capacity of 2.76 MW across 26,090 square metres.