Today (Feb 27), the Commission has launched discussions with the two Cypriot communities in Cyprus about the results of an EU-funded pre-feasibility study concerning the possible establishment of the first-ever bi-communal solar power plant in Cyprus.
Today, the Commission has launched discussions with the two Cypriot communities in Cyprus about the results of an EU-funded pre-feasibility study concerning the possible establishment of the first-ever bi-communal solar power plant in Cyprus.
Discussions were officially launched with a meeting with the representatives of both Cypriot communities, chaired by Mario Nava, Director-General for Structural Reform Support at the European Commission.
The pre-feasibility study, funded under the EU aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community and carried out in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, envisages a solar power plant of 36MW capacity located in the buffer zone, using photovoltaics and batteries with a storage capacity of 3 hours. The introduction of the storage facility would be an innovation in Cyprus and help mainstream this feature, which extends solar power beyond the time the sun shines.
If agreed by the two communities, this ambitious joint investment project will be a major confidence-building measure, increasing bi-communal cooperation on energy and supporting the greening of both electricity systems. It can also serve as a model for further investments in solar energy projects in Cyprus and mark a first step in improving Cyprus's energy supply and storage.
The independent scientific assessment of options paves the way for the two communities to find agreement on key aspects of the solar power plant, including its exact location, the proposed technological and technical solutions, the financing of the investment, and the electricity sharing modalities. Once there is agreement on the way forward, the Commission stands ready to support the next steps, and assist with preparing and launching an international tender for the design and construction of the solar power plant.
Director-General Nava said: "This project has great potential. It can bring the two communities closer together, foster more cooperation on energy, and help achieve the EU's Green Deal goals. It comes at a time when a new UN envoy is looking for common ground between the two communities. I therefore encourage the communities to agree on all the details as soon as possible so that the project can move to the next phase."
Background info
The European Union supports the social and economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community through the EU Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community to facilitate the reunification of Cyprus by encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community, with particular emphasis on:
- the economic integration of the island
- improving contacts between the two communities and with the EU
- the preparation for the EU body of laws following a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue.
Since 2006, the EU has allocated EUR 688 million to the Aid Programme.
