According to the relevant legislation for a RES power generation project, the following are required:
Before the start of construction works:
Prior to the commencement of the construction of the power plant before the start of the power plant.
Prior to the construction of the power plant, prior to the start of the construction works, a building permit
Construction permit for the construction of a power plant from RAEK
Preliminary/Terminal connection conditions from the responsible Grid Operator
After completion of the installation:
Electricity Generating Station Operation License from RAEK.
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Yes, there are. The authorities responsible for implementing each piece of legislation have established criteria, conditions and restrictions for exemptions. When these are met, the licence is deemed to have been granted and therefore no application is required to secure the licence.
See the following Table with the general description of the exemptions in force with regard to photovoltaic installations.
* Exceptions apply to listed buildings, archaeological sites, etc.
Further information can be found in Decree K.D.P.376/2019 of the Ministry of Interior
The Construction License is the license issued by the Regulatory Authority to anyone interested in generating electricity under the Electricity Market Regulation Act.
For RES projects up to 5MW, an “Exemption from a Construction License for a Power Plant” is issued, while for RES projects above 5MW, a “Construction License for a Power Plant” is issued.
For easy reference, the Permit or Exemption from a Power Plant Construction License is referred to in the text as “Construction License by RAEK”.
It is noted that certain small systems are exempted from the above obligation, such as small non-commercial systems that fall under the net-metering category of the support schemes for captive consumption of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry.
Example A: 3kW net-metering photovoltaic system installed on the roof of a house.
Example B: 150 kW PV system, using net-metering, installed on the roof and parking sheds of a supermarket.
The Operating Licence is the licence issued by the Regulatory Authority when the construction works are completed and the project has received the certificate of suitability from the TSO or the IMC.
As in the case of the Construction License from the PUC, there is the “Power Plant Operation License” and the “Exemption from Power Plant Operation License”.
For ease of reference, the Power Plant Operating License or Exemption from Power Plant Operating License is referred to in the text as “Power Plant Operating License by the PUC”
Example: Photovoltaic or Wind System with the objective of selling the energy either to AEC or to another electricity supplier.
The siting of RES systems such as wind farms, photovoltaic parks, etc., is regulated by the Order 2/2006 of the Minister of Interior under the Urban Planning and Zoning Law and defines the areas where the siting of RES projects is prohibited.
As in the case of the Construction License from the RAEC, there is the “Power Plant Operation License” and the “Exemption from Power Plant Operation License”.
For easy reference, the Permit or Exemption from a Power Plant Operating License is referred to in the text as “Power Plant Operating License from the PUC”
Example: Photovoltaic or Wind System with the objective of selling the energy either to AEC or to another electricity supplier.
For ΑΠΕ projects, such as Wind Systems, large Photovoltaic Parks etc., an Environmental Impact Study is required. However, the Law on Environmental Impact Assessment of Certain Projects of 2018 (Law 127(I)/2018), specifies the cases where:
the submission of an EIA is required.
An Information Report is submitted to determine whether an EIA is required.
no submission of any data or information is required.
In all cases, the MEEP is considered as part of the process of securing a Planning Permit and the Opinion of the Environmental Authority, has a weighty effect on the likelihood of securing the permit.
Step A’ – Examine whether the location of such a project is allowed on this piece of land in accordance with the order 2/2006 of the Minister of Interior. For this, a civil engineer or architect can guide you or you can contact the relevant Planning Authority.
Step B – Investigate the ability of the system to be connected to the electricity network. A request is submitted to the Distribution System Operator (DSO) or the Cyprus Transmission System Operator (TSO).
Step C – If the results of the above are positive, then you can proceed with the submission:
Application for a Planning Permit at the Department of Planning and Zoning
Application for obtaining a Power Plant Construction License from the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (RAEK)
Note: With the application for a Planning Permit, the Information Report or the EIS is submitted to the Department of Environment ( See Question 6).
Step D. If the results of the above are positive, the application is submitted:
Application for a Building Permit to the relevant Building Authority.
Application for Preliminary Connection Conditions (PCC) to the PPO
Step E – When the FINAL CONNECTION TERMS and Conditions and the Building Permit are obtained
Construction work on the project can begin.
At the end of the construction work, a request for an inspection of the installation is submitted to the ISA
When the installation is successfully inspected, an application is submitted to the PUC for a Permit or Exemption from an Operating License from the PUC.
Once an Operating Licence is obtained from the RAEC, the party concerned must arrange for the project to operate either under the support scheme to which it falls, or in the Competitive Market.
(click here for projects up to 8 MW and here for projects above 8 MW)?
The connection procedure has been defined by the (a) Transmission System Operator and (b) Distribution System Operator and has been approved by the RAEC. However, in summary, it is stated that during the process of implementing a project, the stakeholder has to follow the below steps:
Application for Indicative Connection Cost submitted to the PPO during the initial/preliminary design stage of the project. It is one of the pre-required elements to apply for a Construction Permit to the RAEC.
Application for Preliminary Connection Conditions (PCC), to the relevant Operator. The application can only be submitted if the project has already secured a Construction License from RAEK.
Application for Final Connection Conditions. This is the last stage of the application for connection. It is done automatically upon acceptance of the TORs. The TORs are the final procedural stage for connecting the project to the grid before construction. In order for the TOS to be issued, the project must have already secured a Building Permit.
No. According to the decision of the Council of Ministers (Decision No. 76) dated 15/4/2015, the support schemes providing for fixed and guaranteed sales prices of electricity from RES have been abolished. New power generation projects utilizing RES must be included in the framework of the Competitive Electricity Market.
AHK was obliged to purchase energy from RES for those projects that were included and operated under the Support Schemes issued from time to time by the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry or the RES and RES-E Fund. This obligation does not apply to the Plan prepared in 2019, entitled “Plan for the generation of electricity from RES under the Transitional Regulation of the Electricity Market, with the projects ultimately ending up in the Competitive Electricity Market”.
Due to the large number of projects currently under implementation or pending as runner-up projects in the “Plan for the production of electricity from RES under the Transitional Regulation of the Electricity Market, with the projects eventually ending up in the Competitive Electricity Market”, and in view of the full operation of the Competitive Electricity Market in 2022, it is not expected that a new support scheme for the licensing of commercial RES power generation projects will be issued soon, although this is not excluded in the future.
Currently, the Transitional Regulation of the Electricity Market (MRAI) is in force. AHK does not participate in MRAI and therefore RES electricity producers are obliged to contract with suppliers other than AHK. So far, there are a total of 16 licensed suppliers.
When the Competitive Electricity Market comes into operation in 2022, the options for RES generators will increase as both a mechanism based on bilateral contracts between generating suppliers and the day-ahead market will operate.
In the case of systems of up to 20kW installed on the roofs of houses or other types of premises, there is a general exemption from the obligation to apply for a Planning Permit and Building Permit. This exemption applies provided that the building was legally erected and a Building Permit has already been secured for it (and it is not a listed building etc.).
With regard to the RAC, it is noted that net-metering systems installed under the Scheme for Private Consumption do not require an Exemption from a Building Permit to be secured, as is required for commercial systems. In the case of net-billing projects, a Construction Permit application is required from RAEK.
After securing a Construction Permit from the RAEK, if required, a request is submitted to the Distribution System Operator (DSO) to AEC for connecting the system using net-metering or net-billing.
Support schemes are issued from time to time that include grants for the installation of PV systems using the net-metering method in homes. Usually the application for the grant is submitted after the completion of the installation and operation of the system accompanied by the necessary certificates/documents. For further information, please visit the website of the RES and EE Fund.
The answer is no. In this case, as there is no Building Permit, the building is considered illegal and therefore, neither the General Development Ordinance nor the General Exception Ordinance, under which the Planning Permit and the Building Permit are deemed to be granted, apply.
If there is a building permit for the shelter in question, then yes, it can be installed with the agreement of the responsible Engineer who will also sign the FORM 11 to inform the building file to the competent authority (Municipality or Provincial Administration).
Requests by civilians for construction of buildings and by extension development projects, within the “buffer zone” but outside of urban use areas, shall be submitted to the competent authority of the Republic/District Administration, and after obtaining the consent of the Ministry of Defence (and if necessary other relevant departments) to promote the project, before issuing a permit, the request, with all necessary information, shall be communicated to UNFICYP for opinions on the basis of its terms of reference through the competent authority with notification to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
If the competent authority grants a licence for the project, it will inform UNFICYP in a timely manner of the time of commencement of work and other technical aspects of the project in order not to affect UNFICYP’s operational capacity to carry out its mandate. In case of a negative assessment of the request by UNFICYP, for reasons related to the Force’s terms of reference, UNFICYP will again inform the Provincial Command/Competent Authority by notifying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If the Competent Authority disagrees with the justification for UNFICYP’s negative assessment, it has the possibility to convene a meeting with UNFICYP and, if appropriate, with the participation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, seeking clarification.