Cyprus faces power shortages amid plummeting temperatures, with authorities warning that the approaching weather system Coral could force rolling blackouts across the island.
The country’s electricity supply has reached critical levels during peak evening hours, between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., as conventional power generation struggles to meet winter demand. The situation eased slightly on Tuesday evening, with consumption dropping to 922 megawatts at 7:15 p.m., compared to Monday’s peak of 952 megawatts.
Two power units are currently offline for maintenance – one at the Vasilikos plant and another at Dhekelia – leaving the system with limited backup capacity. Sources told Reuters that authorities were rushing to restart a 60-megawatt unit at Dhekelia on Tuesday night, while attempting to increase power output at Vasilikos.
The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) narrowly avoided implementing blackouts on Monday evening when the system reached its limits. Emergency measures included drawing approximately 25 megawatts from the occupied north through an existing bi-communal agreement implemented during the previous administration, and about 30 megawatts from renewable sources, primarily wind farms and biomass.
The Transmission System Operator (TSO) is expected to issue a public advisory urging consumers to reduce electricity consumption. However, officials acknowledge that achieving widespread cooperation may be challenging, particularly with temperatures approaching zero degrees Celsius.
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. While solar power helps meet high daytime demand in summer months, evening peaks remain problematic year-round.
Maximum available power generation from EAC units is expected to reach around 1,020 megawatts today, following the restoration of Unit 6 at Dhekelia. However, officials warn that Friday could bring severe challenges unless weather system Coral weakens before reaching Cyprus.
Similar supply issues, potentially more severe, 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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