The view that Cyprus’ electrical connection with Europe and/or energy storage units will solve the issue of energy cuts in photovoltaic systems remains a belief, as in all countries with such infrastructures, energy production cuts from renewable sources (RES) are frequently implemented.
This is because energy from RES cannot be easily integrated and absorbed into the system as many might assume.
Experts and technicians who spoke to Phileleftheros explained that even with the network connected to an electrical cable for importing and exporting energy, the integration of green energy will not prevent cuts, as the technical characteristics of these infrastructures—globally—leave limited options, with network security always being the top priority.
Furthermore, energy storage units will not significantly change the issue, as the number of photovoltaic systems is increasing, and storage units cannot absorb all the energy produced by RES.
Continued Dependence on Conventional Energy
The reason for implementing energy cuts may sound complex—sometimes even strange—but can be explained simply for the average citizen to understand.
The general principle is that there must always be production from conventional units.
Even if photovoltaic systems produce 100% of the demand, this energy cannot be absorbed by the grid because conventional production units must be in operation simultaneously. According to experts, some of these units need to produce at least 200 to 300 MW at all times.
Low Cost of Energy Cuts
Another myth surrounding energy cuts from photovoltaic systems is that they cause significant costs to consumers—particularly those with rooftop systems.
According to available data, the cuts made in 2024 resulted in a loss of only a few euros for households, typically between 10 and 20 euros annually. Contrary to concerns expressed by some, there have been no reports of losses amounting to hundreds of euros per month due to these cuts.
A common concern among citizens has been the installation of energy storage batteries, which is seen as highly unfeasible due to the small amount “lost” from energy cuts and the large cost of purchasing batteries.
Net-Metering Explained
It is also important to clarify how net-metering works. As explained to Phileleftheros, the energy produced by a household’s photovoltaic system is fed into the Electricity Authority’s grid, and the corresponding kilowatt-hours are credited to the consumer’s account. When the consumer uses energy from the grid at night, when their solar system is not producing, the energy given to the grid during the day is offset against the energy consumed from the grid during nighttime.
Essentially, this process functions as indirect energy storage in the grid. Energy that would otherwise be lost because household demand is less than production is instead stored in the grid for later use. As a result, the cuts to household photovoltaic production during certain hours of the year are considered negligible compared to the benefits for those who have installed such systems.
Misconceptions About Reduced Energy Production
Another issue contributing to the suspicion surrounding the problem is reports from citizens claiming drastically reduced energy production from their photovoltaic systems, which they attribute to cuts.
However, investigations into some of these claims revealed that the reduced energy production was due to issues with the household systems themselves, rather than cuts.
