A 100-megawatt solar park will be built in the Limassol area, within the administrative boundaries of the villages of Vasa, Kellakiou, Asgata, and Sanida. French energy company TotalEnergies will implement the project in cooperation with Universal Green Energies Ltd. The photovoltaic park has already received a license from the Cyprus Department of Environment, and construction will begin soon.
Project details
The future energy giant will span 833,000 square meters, 440,000 of which will be covered by 170,000 solar panels. The complex will include a power substation, maintenance facilities, and centralized energy storage units. Construction is expected to take two years and generate up to 160,000 MWh annually, which is equivalent to the electricity needs of approximately 33,000 homes.
Energy Storage: Solving One of Cyprus's Main Problems
The project's main advantage is its integrated 100 MW electricity storage system with a 200 MWh storage capacity. This system is intended to solve one of Cyprus's most pressing problems: the instability of energy supply from renewable sources. The new system will compensate for peak loads and smooth out output fluctuations, especially during hours when there is no sun.
Cyprus Energy Minister Yiorgos Papanastasiou confirmed that the project has passed legal and technical reviews and has been approved by the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (RAEK). He stated that the government is actively working on subsidy programs to support storage systems in private homes, businesses, and large infrastructure projects.
Cyprus is investing in the strategic development of green energy
Against the backdrop of growing EU requirements for decarbonization and energy independence, Cyprus is making significant strides forward. The state has received permission to install battery systems at power plants in Dekelia and Moni, and the power grid operator has been granted the right to build and operate energy storage facilities independently.
Additionally, the authorities are streamlining permit issuance procedures. Now, no urban planning license is required to install batteries in existing renewable energy projects if the facility does not exceed 20 m² in area and 3 m in height. There are plans to expand these allowances in the future.
Meanwhile, the European Commission is researching the possibility of building a pumped storage power station at one of Cyprus's reservoirs — this could be the next step in the island's sustainable energy development.