He said the government was working with the Cyprus Transmission System Operator (TSO) on solutions to avoid power outages caused by photovoltaic (PV) systems, a measure currently being used to protect the grid.

Speaking at an Edek party event on energy policy, Papanastasiou said one way to avoid cuts was to increase self-consumption of solar energy.

This means encouraging people to use the electricity they generate themselves, rather than feeding it into the public grid. He also pointed to the installation of "ripple control systems" that help regulate the flow of electricity as an important step to stabilise the supply.

Cyprus' energy infrastructure struggles with fluctuations in electricity demand. The country generates a surplus of solar power during the day but lacks the ability to store it for use at night or in the colder months.

“We are forced to turn off solar power during the day because we don’t have a storage system to use the energy when it is really needed,” Papanastasiou said.

A new technical approach is being investigated in which excess solar power is not fed into the grid but consumed directly on site. Currently, the only option is to switch off solar power generation when the grid is overloaded.

The minister also called on Parliament to approve a draft law on energy storage introduced in January. The law will bring Cyprus into line with EU directives and enable faster development of energy storage projects.
"Without storage, we will continue to limit solar energy. This law will enable the transmission system operator to quickly build a central storage system," he said.

Cyprus gives top priority to reducing electricity from conventional power plants, as these are expensive and harmful to the environment. Only when further reductions are necessary will large wind and solar parks be affected. If supply continues to exceed demand, smaller private and commercial solar plants will be switched off as a last resort.
TSO CEO Stavros Stavrinos defended these measures, saying they prevented a network collapse.

"If the system fails due to an imbalance, it can take months to restore power. Without storage, we will have to cut corners quickly if solar power generation suddenly drops," he explained.

Unlike most European countries, Cyprus cannot export surplus electricity because its grid is not connected to that of a neighboring country. The government is working on a complex interconnection project with Greece, but financial and geopolitical challenges are slowing progress. French cable manufacturer Nexans is responsible for the seabed research and laying of the cable, but the success of the project remains uncertain, although Greece reiterated its support for the project on Monday.

Papanastasiou pointed out that securing investments depends on the geopolitical stability of the project.
"This is an important energy link between the Eastern Mediterranean and Europe, but non-connected countries see it as a challenge to their influence," he said.

The event also focused on the role of natural gas and renewable energy in Cyprus. The minister provided updates on offshore drilling and potential new gas reserves. He said results from the Elektra gas field were expected by the end of the month. According to estimates, it could contain between 10 and 30 trillion cubic feet of gas.

“If this is confirmed, it will change everything,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (Cera) warned that the country faces some of the highest electricity prices in the EU. Cera chairman Polyvios Lemonaris said a competitive energy market was essential, but noted that Cyprus remained dependent on imported fuels.

Edek chairman Marinos Sizopoulos said Cyprus should lobby the EU for an exemption from green electricity taxes due to its geographical restrictions. He also expressed concerns about unfair competition from the Turkish-controlled north, where fuel does not meet EU standards.

While the government is working on a more stable and efficient energy system, officials agree that storage and grid connectivity remain the two biggest challenges. Without urgent action, Cyprus risks further blackouts and high electricity prices for consumers.

Source: CyprusMail.com

Author: Charalambos Stylianou