Recom to install 20 MW of new solar in Cyprus this year

French PV manufacturer Recom has announced it is supplying modules for 20 MW of solar capacity in Cyprus that is set to be installed this year.

A 4.5 MW solar farm in Pissouri is already under construction, said the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) provider.

However, a press announcement stating all the planned projects that will receive Recom modules were secured through tenders features some discrepancies.

The Recom press release said the company had secured, “through tenders, 20 MW of solar projects out of 35 MW offered, which are planned to be installed during 2019”. In fact, Cyprus has tendered some 50 MW of solar capacity, rather than the 35 MW stated.

The second discrepancy was that – according to pv magazine’s information – of the 50 MW tendered, 35 MW has already been installed. A Recom spokesperson told pv magazine that in addition to the supply of panels, the company will provide EPC services on the Pissouri project.

Hot market

Recom’s Cypriot module order is in line with expectations the island state will be one of the European Union’s hottest PV markets this year.

pv magazine recently presented detailed analysis of the Cypriot PV market, the liveliest segment of which comprises ‘subsidy-free’ projects.

With the uptake of energy from PV – in tendered, non-tendered and net-metered projects – slow in Cyprus to date despite the country signing up to EU renewable energy targets, the Cypriot government has come up with a new plan to install a wave of ‘subsidy-free’ projects.

And with those ‘subsidy-free’ projects probably receiving more public funds than tendered facilities – courtesy of a plan by the electricity authority to refund such projects the savings made on fossil fuel generation costs – investors may struggle to find any hotter prospects in European PV at present.

This article was amended on 25/04/19 after Recom confirmed the 20 MW order was for the supply of panels rather than development of generation capacity.