The municipality of Aradippou has become the first in Cyprus and one of few in the European Union to achieve complete energy independence through renewable sources.
Through a large municipal photovoltaic park with a capacity of 2.96 MW, Aradippou will cover 100% of its electricity needs, saving approximately €700,000 annually that the municipality previously spent on street lighting and municipal facilities for its 25,000 residents.
“Whatever the municipality had budgeted for electricity costs now remains in the municipality’s treasury,” noted Municipal Engineer Andreas Dimitriou.
The project, located in the “Melissia” area on a 46,866 square metre plot, cost €3.25 million (plus VAT) and was co-funded by the European Union through the THALIA 2021-2027 Cohesion Policy Programme, with the municipality contributing 20% of the cost.
Municipal Secretary Matthaios Alambritis told philenews that the idea originated in 2016 after officials visited Samsø, a Danish island that became the world’s first renewable energy island.
“When we returned to Cyprus, we presented the idea to then-Mayor Evangelos Evangelides and began a long and demanding process to reach the point where we now have our own photovoltaic park,” Alambritis said.
Current Mayor Christodoulos Partou emphasised that the municipality is now planning a second photovoltaic park aimed at providing low-cost or free electricity to vulnerable citizens and families facing economic hardships.
“The first photovoltaic park forms the basis for an ambitious long-term strategy aimed at climate neutrality in the wider area,” Partou said, adding that the municipality has already secured land leasing, planning permission, and building permits for the second installation.
Aradippou is one of four Cypriot municipalities, alongside Limassol, Paphos, and Strovolos, that signed a memorandum of cooperation in July 2023 committing to practices aimed at achieving climate neutrality, digital transformation, and becoming smart cities.
