New law restricts commercial solar parks on farmland

The House plenary on Thursday passed a law aiming to curb the granting of permits for commercial solar parks, in a stated bid to protect arable land as well as conservation areas from the encroachment of these facilities.

The bill – drafted by three Akel MPs – passed unanimously.

The granting of permits for solar parks is now prohibited in five cases.

Firstly, where the land is of “a high natural value”. Secondly, on arable or permanently irrigated land. Thirdly, on land designated as irrigated, or areas irrigated under a government project. Fourthly, on land lying within an environmental protection zone.

And lastly, on land inside an area designated as Natura 2000.

At the same time, no restrictions apply on farmers for installing photovoltaic systems for their own use.

The matter had been discussed on and off in parliament for years, with farmers from the Famagusta and Paphos districts repeatedly complaining about solar parks springing up everywhere, squeezing out agriculturalists and wiping out pastures.

On the House floor, Akel MP Yiannakis Gavriel – one of the bill’s co-sponsors – said he hoped the updated legislation would close the various “loopholes” allowing the unchecked granting of solar park permits on farmland.

Diko’s Christos Orfanides said today there are around 450 megawatts of installed power from commercial renewables operations on agricultural land.

He also referenced recent findings, according to which roughly two-thirds of capacity from renewables in the private sector is concentrated in the hands of just five companies.