Cyprus ranks first globally in hot water solar system installation

Cyprus ranks first worldwide as regards the installation of solar systems for hot water and it is the sixth best performer among the 27 EU countries as regards installed capacity of photovoltaic systems per capita, with its total installed capacity reaching 3MW, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides has said.

Addressing the 2nd Annual General Meeting of the Association of Wind Energy in Cyprus, Paschalides said that progress in renewable energy sources must be the result of consensus and collective action, adding that it is true that the licensing for the operation of wind farms is slow due to the large number of authorities involved.

He assured that the Ministry of Commerce is making a systematic and concerted effort to reduce the time required for the full authorisation of such projects.

The Minister noted that the contribution of renewable energy sources to energy in Cyprus was quite small until 2005 while with the implementation of measures, initiatives and incentives in 2008 renewable energy sources constituted 4.5% of the total energy consumption in the country.

Undoubtedly, he added, wind systems are expected to contribute, in the coming years, the largest percentage of electricity than any other renewable energy technologies in Cyprus.