The Cypriot authorities have decided to freeze the issuing of permits for the construction of photovoltaic power plants on agricultural land.
The decision comes amid growing discontent among farmers and local residents concerned about the loss of fertile land.
Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou said that the government began reviewing the permitting process for such plants immediately after coming to power. There are currently 126 applications under review, but only those that meet the requirements of the energy regulator CERA have been approved.
It is worth noting that the new leasing rules provide that:
- State land for solar plants will only be leased through tenders, and the starting price will depend on the market value of the land.
- The authorities have introduced 'exclusion zones' - areas where the construction of solar farms is prohibited. Up to 65% of the country's territory has been placed under these restrictions.
- The priority now is agrovoltaics - installing solar panels only where it benefits agriculture.
However, experts and members of parliament are concerned that unregulated projects approved earlier could damage the environment and agriculture. In the municipality of Frenaros, for example, 2.5 million square metres of solar panels are planned, 2.5 times the size of the village's entire residential area.
In addition, a number of photovoltaic parks are being built near nature reserves without the necessary environmental impact assessments, which has already provoked a reaction from the European Union. Cyprus has received an official warning for breaching environmental regulations, which could lead to fines and a review of its renewable energy policy. As a result, the Cypriot authorities are reconsidering their approach to solar energy development in an effort to balance the interests of farmers, the environment and business.