Filenews 4 June 2025 - by Angelos Nicolaou
The Environmental Authority gave a positive opinion on the proposal for the installation of a 100 MW photovoltaic park, a project undertaken by TotalEnergies in collaboration with Universal Green Energies Ltd, on land owned by Universal Golf Enterprises. The project concerns the development of a Renewable Energy Park in the communities of Vasa Kellaki, Asgata and Sanida in the Limassol district, with the aim of contributing to Cyprus' energy transition towards green energy.
The opinion was issued on the basis of the relevant environmental impact assessment legislation and is accompanied by a summary note, which records how the comments from the public consultation and the competent authorities have been incorporated. This positive opinion is valid for as long as the planning or other relevant permit lasts, provided that there will be no change in the data on the basis of which it was issued.
The photovoltaic park will cover a final area of 833,000 square meters, of which 440,000 square meters will be occupied by the 170,000 photovoltaic panels. The total area of the plots that was initially reserved for the needs of the park amounted to approximately 2,003,461 sq.m.
The project also includes the creation of a substation, storage areas and maintenance infrastructure. Annual energy production is expected to reach 160,000 MWh, covering the needs of about 33,000 households, with a corresponding reduction in carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to planting about 4 million trees.
The Environmental Authority set specific conditions for the implementation of the project, including measures to protect fauna and flora, as well as restrictions on intervention in sensitive areas such as streams and protection zones. Particular emphasis was given to avoiding the installation of frames on soils with a slope of more than 25% and to respecting the habitats of protected species, such as the Eagle (Aquila fasciata), which nests in the area.
During the environmental assessment, there was a requirement for the redesign of the project, in order to avoid the location of frames in the western zone, a critical area for the local avifauna. In addition, the restoration and replanting of trees and shrubs that will be removed has been launched, in consultation with the Department of Forests.
The relevant public presentation of the project took place on May 15, 2024 in the community of Sanida, with the participation of residents and institutions from the affected communities. Reservations were expressed about the possible impact of the park on the temperature of the area, about the construction of EAC pillars and about issues related to a possible conflict with Natura 2000 sites. For their part, the representatives of the project assured that the siting was done with the aim of avoiding such areas, while the environmental impact has been reduced to a minimum.
The company's representative stressed that the project is part of the EU's broader goals to increase the penetration of renewables and that Cyprus is called upon to boost the production of "clean energy" to reduce fines and pollutants resulting from the use of fuel oil.
The project is a partnership between Universal Green Energies Ltd and TotalEnergies, with the French energy company strengthening its presence in the Cypriot energy market. The implementation is expected to take two years from the issuance of the building permit and to enhance Cyprus' energy self-sufficiency, while reducing its dependence on polluting and imported energy sources.
