The Cyprus Environment Ministry has rejected an application to build a 900 kW photovoltaic farm near the village of Tsada in the Paphos district.
The main reason given was that the solar farm would have been very close to the Natura 2000 network.
The authority said that the realisation of the project, even with the implementation of mitigation measures, could have a negative and irreversible impact on the site and its inhabitants. This conclusion was based on an assessment of:
- the Natura 2000 network site-specific environmental impact assessment study
- Natura 2000 site-specific management plans for the Natura 2000 site;
- legislative acts;
- the scientific expertise of the experts of the Special Committee.
It should be recalled that the problem of energy conservation is very acute on the island.
The small surface area and the lack of natural minerals from which fuel can be produced make Cyprus vulnerable in terms of electricity consumption. Only new technologies can enable the country to save electricity and thus spend much less money on it. For this reason, Cyprus is currently focusing on renewable energy sources, especially solar panels. As a result, photovoltaic parks are springing up all over the island, and there is great hope for the future. However, not all projects are completed.