Cyprus will establish its first large-scale electricity storage infrastructure within the next 16 months, Energy Minister George Papanastasiou announced at the Green Agenda Cyprus Summit in Nicosia on Monday.
The absence of storage capacity represents the greatest challenge for integrating renewable energy sources into the Cypriot grid, Papanastasiou said, adding that the government is now moving at an accelerated pace to address this issue.
“Storage is the way forward, with chemical batteries offering the most immediate solution,” the minister stated.
To tackle renewable energy curtailment, the government is promoting storage systems adjacent to production units. The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) has already submitted applications for storage installations at its Dekelia and Moni facilities, aiming to have them operational within 16 months.
A new decree expected next week will allow certain storage systems to bypass lengthy permitting processes, enabling faster investments in the sector.
Approximately 50,000 Cypriot households, representing 15% of the total, currently live below the energy poverty line. Papanastasiou emphasised that energy policy must prioritise economic sustainability and competitiveness before addressing climate change concerns.
Referencing recent European Union messaging, he stressed that “no state is an energy island” and advocated for interconnections and cooperation between member states. The EU’s energy mix by 2035 is projected to include 80% renewables, 10% natural gas, and 10% nuclear energy.
Cyprus plans to use a combination of natural gas and solar energy in the immediate future, with the goal of gradually transitioning to a fully electric energy system. “Natural gas is a transitional choice, but the future lies in solar power and interconnections,” the minister said.
Infrastructure for natural gas through the ETYFA project, initially expected to be completed in 2022, will now become operational in the first half of 2026, with the transition to natural gas expected in late 2026 or early 2027. “That’s when we expect electricity prices to decrease,” Papanastasiou added.
EAC President George Petrou said the authority aims to install storage systems within approximately one year, noting that their ten-year investment plan is progressing faster than anticipated. The government targets a 20-25% reduction in emissions by 2030, while the EU goal remains a complete green transition by 2050.
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