Filenews 14 January 2023 - by Angelos Nicolaou
Total Energies joins forces with Universal Life for a huge investment in the renewable energy sector. This is a partnership between the two organisations as part of Total's decision to invest massively in renewable energy and clean and sustainable fuels, with one third of its investments being made in these areas. Today most of Total's current projects are still in the oil and gas sector, but it has set a target of having 50% of its energy mix in renewables and 25% so-called new molecules (including hydrogen, biogas and biofuels).
According to information from "F", the French giant, as part of its strategy to evolve from an oil group to an energy group, will proceed with the construction of a 120 MW photovoltaic park in the mountainous area of Limassol and specifically in the communities of Vasa Kellakiou, Sanida and Asgata. For the proposed project, the only license that has been secured is from CERA, while no connection terms with the Transmission Operator have been requested. Therefore, even if it is licensed, a long period of construction and connection to the EAC network is required, since a new transmission substation and a new transmission line are required. Therefore, it is practically impossible to do this unless several years have passed since third-parties are affected and their consents will have to be obtained.
Universal Green Energies Ltd was granted a license by CERA on 01/11/2022 for the construction of a Power Plant for Commercial Use. The license concerns a photovoltaic system with a total installed capacity of 120MWp with a validity period of five years. The decision entered into force on the day of its publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic, on 04/11/2022.
It is noted that on 27/04/2018 the Department of Town Planning and Housing granted planning permission to the company Universal Golf Enterprises Ltd in the same area where the photovoltaic park is currently proposed. This valid licence expires five years after it has been granted, with the right to extend it once or more times upon application and issue of an authorisation for an extension of a licence. This permit concerns a golf course, the separation of 539 plots for residential and tourist development, and the creation of the necessary road network and cycle paths. Furthermore, it includes a sports area which will be granted free of charge for use in the communities of Sanida, Vasa Kellaki and Asgata. The total area required for the above reaches 1,954,289 sq.m.
As far as the plots of the proposed photovoltaic park are concerned, they fall within urban protection zones Z1, zones of strict protection Z3, but also agricultural zone C3.
The area is mostly hilly with steep slopes while some of the plots are located within the Natura 2000 Network, some on a migratory bird corridor, others next to a forest and others in a residential zone. Based on the spatial policy for the development of RES, the construction of such projects in these areas is prohibited.
It is noted that if the application for the photovoltaic park for the environmental opinion proceeds, it will require, in addition to an Environmental Impact Assessment Study, a Special Ecological Assessment. It is emphasized that the opinion on golf was granted on 09/01/2015. The Environmental Authority took into account for the licensing of the golf course the fact that the immediate study area is located at an altitude ranging from 300-600 m above the mean sea level and the flora in the area consists mainly of shrubby vegetation. The local fauna is characterized by species found in the semi-mountainous (reptiles, small mammals, a variety of insects, and some species of birds). The opinion was issued taking into account that the development of the golf course and similar developments will have the least impact on the natural environment of the area, by implementing all the necessary management and mitigation measures in the neighbouring Limassol Forest.
The nearest protection area is located at the boundaries of the immediate study area to the west (Site of Community Importance, Limassol Forest" - Natura 2000 Network), which for the golf course is estimated not to be affected by the proposed project since there is no intervention in it, while it is also located in a different watershed. The opinion took into account that in the immediate study area, a relatively limited number of birds are observed. This is mainly due to the presence of the two bird-friendly areas to the East and West of the immediate study area, the Kalavasos dam to the East and the Limassol Forest to the West. It was noted that it is normal that some birds use the direct study area mainly for feeding.
President's briefing on the big investment
The management of the French group, which is preparing large investments internationally in the field of RES, has informed about its plans at a meeting held at the Presidential Palace in the presence of the Minister of Energy Natasa Pilides. In her statements, the competent minister said that developments are expected in the near future in relation to the further work and actions of the company. According to the minister, it is expected that Total will make some investments in the field of Renewable Energy Sources in Cyprus, which will particularly help the country to proceed with the green transition. Asked about Total's planned projects in Cyprus, Ms. Pilides said that these projects mainly concern activity in the field of photovoltaics and the construction of a large park. He noted that there are numbers in terms of the park's capacity, but gave no further details. It is a process that needs several permits and other procedures for a project to reach its implementation, he said, adding that the ministry operates the Business Facilitation Unit with a one-stop shop for RES to facilitate these projects
BEHIND THE LINES
Same treatment with domestic companies
The proposed investments that are now being made in Cyprus by Total Energies are obviously related to the fact that the company has decided to proceed with investments in the field of RES, investments that are considered comparable to those made by the company in oil and gas. Total's shift to RES in Cyprus, and the official application if and when it is submitted, must follow the same procedure as all other companies investing in the renewable energy sector. A time-consuming examination process that takes many years, from the moment the initial application is submitted to the Planning Authority, until it results in an opinion of the Environmental Authority.
