The island country is achieving this with the help of the local company Thriamvos, which operates a truck equipped with a crane to install solar panels on Cypriot roofs. The crane first lifts the boiler, followed by the black-panelled solar panels and the galvanised steel mount that supports the entire system. In just two hours, the thermal technology is set up, allowing the household to “go solar.” The team typically completes four installations daily across Cyprus.
Cyprus has surpassed all other European Union member states in adopting hot-water solar systems, with 93.5 per cent of households utilising this alternative energy source for their everyday needs. The nation-wide installation has helped them exceed their renewable energy targets for heating and cooling buildings.
Charalampos Theopemptou, Cyprus’ first environment commissioner, highlighted that this success is mainly attributed to the long-standing and extensive use of solar water heaters, which has made it easy for the country to meet its renewable energy goals. To further encourage solar heating, Theopemptou also advocated for regulations that would make these systems mandatory in new buildings, ensuring that architects design rooftops to accommodate solar panels.
The tourism industry in the country has also thrived thanks to this green solution, with nearly 100 per cent of hotels using solar-powered hot water systems.
While most of Cyprus' power network is still running on mazut fuel oil and diesel, the country is required to purchase emission quotas from other EU nations to meet legal obligations. This significantly increases electricity bills, leading homeowners to choose solar water heating systems as a more affordable and environmentally friendly alternative.
“Installation costs may be three times higher today, but there are EU-funded grants that the government hands out and within a year it’s all paid off,” retired engineer Demetra Asprou told The Guardian.
“After that, you basically have free hot water and see your electricity bills greatly reduced. In a country like Cyprus, it’s a no-brainer.”
Planet Ark does not take responsibility for the accuracy of the original information and encourages readers to check the references before using this information for their own purposes.