Cyprus first among the EU in solar collectors

Cyprus ranks first in an EU report concerning installed solar collectors per capita, Cypriot Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Antonis Paschalides said on Thursday.

Addressing a conference on Renewable Source of Energy Paschalides said ''today Cyprus innovates globally concerning the use of solar energy for water heating purposes with 90% of the households and 50% of the hotel units having solar water heating systems.''

Cyprus has a long tradition in Renewable sources of Energy, dating from the 1930's with the windmills for water pumping, he added.

He added that due to the increased public interest, the government prepared a new Action Plan for the period 2009-2013, which inter alia aims at fulfilling Cyprus' commitments stemming from the EU acquis communautaire.

Paschalides added that Cyprus energy policy is fully harmonised with the EU energy policy and shapes having in mind the provision of ample, safe, clean and cheep energy for the protection of the environment and the development of the people's standard of living.

''A policy which is drafted with sensitivity, social responsibility which constitutes the basic structural element in the new development model being created in Cyprus,'' he concluded.