2026-04-13T01:29:59Zhttps://recercat.cat/oai/request

oai:recercat.cat:2117/4427472025-10-02T21:18:17Zcom_2072_1033col_2072_452951

00925njm 22002777a 4500 dc Eleftheriou, Andreas author 2025-07-17 This study explores the technical and spatial feasibility of large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment in the Republic of Cyprus, with the main goal of identifying optimal land for utility-scale fix-tilt solar installations to support the country’s energy independence. Despite over 3,300 sunlight hours annually, Cyprus underutilizes its solar energy potential and still relies on imported fossil fuels for over 80% of its energy. To address this gap, the thesis applies a two-stage geospatial analysis using QGIS. First, legally, and environmentally restricted areas were completely removed through Boolean exclusion filters, based on national legislation and European Union directives. The remaining land was then evaluated using a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework, applying the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and a set of weighted spatial criteria, including solar irradiation (GHI), slope, aspect, land cover (CORINE), distance to roads and powerlines, and biodiversity constraints such as Natura 2000 sites and migratory bird corridors. Results show that after excluding unsuitable areas, 1,750 km² of land remains potentially viable for solar PV development, which account to 30% of the total land. Energy output was calculated under three land-use scenarios (100%, 50%, and 30%), showing that even the conservative 30% land use scenario still yields 150.21 TWh/year—nearly 30 times the national peak electricity demand of 5.036 TWh/year. Under the 100% land use scenario, the total theoretical output reaches 500.69 TWh/year nearly 100 times the national peak electricity demand of 5.036 TWh/year Suitability was further classified into five categories, revealing some regional variation. Results show that 46.61% of the 1,750 km² of suitable land falls into the high suitability class, with Nicosia, Limassol, and Larnaca leading in potential. A sensitivity analysis confirms the model's robustness and adaptability, while identifying extreme suitability as rare and highlighting priority areas for development and investment strategy planning. This study estimates the storage capacity needed to match 2024 demand using solar PV and the minimum generation threshold. The strong seasonal imbalance in solar production makes it unfeasible to rely solely on PV and energy storage, as the required ESS capacity is extremely large. To achieve year-round reliability, additional generation technologies such as wind, biomass, other renewables must be integrated and future solutions should prioritize seasonal storage technologies like molten salt or hydrogen. Recommendations include prioritizing high-suitability zones, streamlining licensing procedures, and expanding incentives for storage solutions. This work contributes toward national and EU renewable targets, offering practical guidance for stakeholders aiming to accelerate Cyprus’s clean energy transition. http://hdl.handle.net/2117/442747 Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Energia solar fotovoltaica Photovoltaic power generation Energia solar fotovoltaica Solar-powered cyprus: site analysis and solar solutions for energy independence