Cyprus has implemented new restrictions on licensing solar farms on agricultural land, following recommendations from the Audit Office, Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou told the House Agriculture Committee on Tuesday.
The committee continued discussions on protecting agricultural land from solar installations, with the Energy, Commerce and Agriculture Ministers attending alongside representatives from the energy regulator CERA, transmission system operator DSMK, the electricity authority EAC, farmers’ organisations and communities from the Famagusta district.
Ioannou stated that since May 2023, the government has stopped accepting new applications for solar parks on state land, except for those that had already received CERA approval. According to the minister, the Interior Ministry currently has 126 pending applications, with only those having CERA approval being processed. Official data indicates that 15 applications have been approved, with a total capacity of 259 megawatts covering 1.23 million square metres.
Planning Department Director Kyriakos Koundouros noted that since July 1, 2023, local authorities have been empowered to approve solar projects up to 3 MW, while the Interior Minister has established exclusion zones for larger developments.
Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou emphasised that the government prioritises maintaining agricultural production and reducing costs for producers. “The government is promoting the installation of agri-photovoltaics, which allow dual use of land,” she said, adding that since June 2024, solar installations on fertile agricultural land have been prohibited unless compatible with farming activities.
Panayiotou also announced a decree simplifying procedures for installing solar water pumps, noting that “agri-photovoltaics help protect crops and reduce water consumption by up to 30%.”
Energy Minister George Papanastasiou pointed out that 63-65% of Cypriot territory falls within solar exclusion zones, limiting uncontrolled development. “The new rules should have been in place from the beginning,” he remarked, adding that many projects were licensed under previous regulations.
Political reactions to the measures were mixed. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Yiannakis Gabriel from left-wing AKEL stated that despite government commitments, unauthorised solar development on agricultural land continues. He noted that applications already approved by CERA exceed 2,000 MW and questioned whether licenses could be redistributed to barren areas.
Charalambos Pazaros of conservative DISY described “significant lawlessness” threatening the primary sector, while Linos Papagiannis (ELAM) called the situation a “crime,” claiming farmers who went bankrupt are selling their land to solar investors. Christos Orphanides of centrist, nationalist DIKO stated the problem began in 2018, while Ilias Myrianthous of centrist, nationalist EDEK alleged cases where the Agriculture Department rejected applications that were subsequently approved by Planning authorities.
Charalambos Theopemptou of the Green Party emphasised that solar power is the most economical energy production method, but suggested the government should promote smaller installations in already developed areas.
Communities from the Famagusta district expressed concern about solar parks’ impact in their regions. They reported that parks exceeding 100 MW capacity are planned for Frenaros, covering more than 2.5 million square metres of state land. They also noted that wind turbines installed near residential areas and livestock units are creating problems.
Farmers’ organisations acknowledged the new measures as positive but insufficient, maintaining that meeting farmers’ needs should be the priority. “Unfortunately, money buys everything,” said Michalis Lytras of the Cypriot Farmers’ Union.
The transmission system operator noted that solar installations currently generate 835 MW, with a 2030 target of 1,080 MW. They requested immediate clarification on which projects will proceed, as distribution infrastructure construction requires up to three years.
The Audit Office reported weaknesses in the licensing process, with some parks bordering protected zones without environmental impact studies, prompting warnings from the EU.
