First energy cooperative in Cyprus to be set up in mountain villages

MountMed Institute and the University of Cyprus are establishing the country’s first energy cooperative with partners from Crete. In the pilot phase, they intend to build a small hybrid power plant – photovoltaic facility with energy storage – for one hundred households in the Troodos mountain range.

The communities of the wider Troodos (Trodos) region in Cyprus are getting assistance for access to renewable energy sources. A project is underway for the island country’s first energy cooperative. It is especially aimed to benefit villages where the environment and particular geographical and building characteristics do not provide residents with technical solutions such as the ones in urban areas, for the production of cheaper electricity from photovoltaic systems or other technologies, philenews reported.

The non-profit MountMed Research and Development Institute for the Mountain Regions of the Mediterranean Islands secured EUR 1 million via a European Union program. The University of Cyprus, the project coordinator, is tasked with technical studies and obtaining permits.

They intend to install a pilot energy community solar park with storage for communities and villagers in the Troodos mountain range. In the first phase, the 500 kW facility would supply 100 households in the Solea-Marathasa area.

Minoan Energy Community of Crete to provide knowhow

The initiative is called MoRECo (Mountain Community of Renewable Energy) Troodos. The funding came through Cooperation Programme Interreg VI-A Greece-Cyprus 2021-2027. The endeavor includes assistance from the Crete Region and the Minoan Energy Community as partners.

According to the update, the land for the first solar power plant will be secured in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the Cypriot government.

Spreading MoRECo to other villages in Troodos

MountMed plans to expand the initiative to surrounding communities. It has also qualified for technical support from the European Commission’s Rural Energy Community Advisory Hub (RECAH).

The Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA) adopted the legal framework for renewable energy communities (RECs) last year. In line with EU regulation, such entities are for individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and municipal authorities.

The primary objective of an REC is to provide environmental, economic and social benefits at a community level to its shareholders or members or the local areas where it operates, but not profits.