Farmers wanting to install solar panels for their own consumption will be able to do so without needing a construction permit, under a law passed by the House of Representatives on Thursday.

The legislative proposal was tabled by Disy MP Kyriacos Hadjiyiannis.

No construction permit will be required provided the solar panels are for own consumption and are installed on or near agricultural installations such as warehouses, water tanks or greenhouses.

Another precondition is that the total capacity of the photovoltaic system does not exceed 100 kilowatts. Solar panels must be of a height not exceeding 1.5 metres, and the owner or user of the land must be a registered farmer.

The special dispensation does not apply if the plot of land – where the solar panels are to be installed – contains any domicile built illegally.

In remarks on the House floor, Hadjiyiannis said this was something that farmers had been demanding for some time, given high energy prices.

Greens MP Stavros Papadouris welcomed the move, noting that it helped farmers to transition to renewables.

He said the legislation contains the safeguards ensuring that those eligible are indeed engaged in agriculture, to prevent cheating.