Cyprus’s power grid met demand until early Tuesday evening despite recent strains, but authorities warn of possible rolling blackouts as cold weather approaches the island.
“The system is monitored daily,” Transmission System Operator (TSO) spokesperson Chara Kousiappa told the Cyprus News Agency, addressing concerns after Monday’s power shortages forced authorities to draw electricity from the occupied north.
The island’s electricity supply has reached critical levels during peak evening hours, prompting officials to prepare for potential 30-minute rolling blackouts nationwide if demand exceeds generation capacity.
According to official data, conventional power generation reached 897 megawatts at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, with an estimated 9 megawatts from distributed generation and 2 megawatts from wind power, meeting total demand of 908 megawatts.
Several power units are currently offline for scheduled maintenance, while others have experienced technical issues. Monday’s reduced generation capacity led to emergency power exchange with the northern grid, continuing overnight as part of confidence-building measures.
The situation could worsen with the arrival of weather system Coral on Thursday, which the meteorological service predicts will cause a significant temperature drop and likely push power demand even higher.
Two power units – one at Vasilikos and another at Dhekelia – are currently undergoing maintenance. Sources told Reuters that authorities were rushing to restart a 60-megawatt unit at Dhekelia, while attempting to increase power output at Vasilikos.
Kousiappa said the situation is under continuous evaluation, with additional generation units expected to come online. The TSO plans to issue public advisories urging reduced consumption during peak hours if necessary.
The recent surge in domestic solar panel installations has paradoxically contributed to increased electricity consumption, as more households switch to electric central heating systems or use electric heaters and air conditioning units.
Similar supply issues are anticipated during summer months during the same evening hours, although daytime demand is adequately met by photovoltaic systems with support from conventional power units.
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