Cyprus’ revised 2014 solar plan faces opposition - report

Apr 30, 2014 - Cyprus parliament members have "hinted" they might vote against the country’s 2014 renewable energy sources (RES) budget if the government curbs residential solar projects in favour of large-scale schemes, the Cyprus Mail said today.

The country’s House commerce committee will discuss the matter on May 5.

Last week, Cyprus’ government said it would reduce the capacity cap for newly installed commercial and residential photovoltaic (PV) facilities for 2014 to 13.5 MW from 30 MW intended previously. The reason behind the move is a Cabinet decision that allows the construction of two solar thermal stations with a total capacity of 100 MW, the report says.

Net metering in Cyprus allows solar system owners to produce their own electricity and feed the excess amount to the grid. The scheme, which was launched in 2013, has helped about 3,000 homes in the country go solar. According to the government’s initial plans, the capacity and licences granted for PV in 2014 were to be higher than in 2013.

In April 2013 Giorgos Varnava, parliament member from the Movement for Social Democracy EDEK, said that by 2019 Cyprus will aim to have 15 MW of biomass, 225 MW of solar PV and 175 MW of wind power facilities. The capacity for solar thermal plants was set at 25 MW.

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