The Cyprus Electricity Authority has so far identified 110 cases of suspected photovoltaic system installations on commercial properties, as part of a campaign that began last June. Seventy-seven on-site inspections have already been conducted; in 22 of these cases, violations and irregularities were confirmed, and operations were immediately suspended.
EAC Press Secretary Christina Papadopoulou stated on the Alpha News program that most of the violations were found at sports stadiums, hotels, factories, and stores. Ms. Papadopoulou explained that in 17 of the 22 cases, it was found that no applications had been submitted for the installation of photovoltaic systems, and she specifically mentioned the case of a sports field, where numerous panels had been installed, right next to a main road.
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As he noted, the operation of illegal photovoltaic systems results in greater cuts for lawful owners, which constitutes unequal and unfair treatment. At the same time, he highlighted the serious risks posed by illegal installations and mentioned the discovery of two non-compliant photovoltaic energy storage systems, which were discovered after the property had been completely destroyed by fire.
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Chrysanthos Marouchos, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cyprus Association of Electrical Engineers (CYBSE) and General Coordinator of the ETEK Energy Committee, noted that the lack of oversight and a strict legislative framework “encourages” the installation of illegal or non-compliant photovoltaic systems. He pointed out that the delay in installing batteries for energy storage provides an opportunity for unscrupulous individuals to expand their installations and generate electricity in uncontrolled quantities.
When asked about this, Mr. Marouchos noted that African dust and shading create problems for the operation and efficiency of photovoltaic systems and urged owners to take the appropriateand perform regular maintenance.
SEE ALSO: Areas Without Power: Why Photovoltaic Systems Stopped Working, “Blocking” the Power Supply
