The Transmission System Operator of Cyprus (TSOC) predicts that transmission and distribution grid operators may wish to curtail 28% of the nation’s annual inexperienced energy manufacturing in 2024.
The TSOC said that the curtailment of renewable energy in Cyprus is crucial to make sure the stability of {the electrical} power group, given the sturdy uptake of photograph voltaic, the scarcity of put-in-power storage functionality on the island, and the dearth {of electrical} power interconnections with neighboring worldwide areas.
Has launched the pressing issue of Cyprus’ renewable power curtailments earlier, nevertheless, curtailments are anticipated to achieve unprecedented ranges inside the coming 12 months.
The TSOC said it expects the island’s annual curtailments to achieve 28% of all generated inexperienced electrical power in 2024. Curtailments in March, April, and May could attain 59%, 79%, and 51%, respectively, said the TSOC. Curtailments from July to September, when the nation turns into a popular vacationer trip spot and demand for air-conditioning rises, are predicted to range from merely 0% to 5.
The TSOC said that these predictions apply solely to renewable power facilities monitored by the nation’s transmission and distribution networks by the use of SCADA strategies. This accommodates wind farms and about 47% of the island’s PV functionality. Nonetheless, if it accounts for all photo voltaic power eras, along with unmonitored photograph voltaic energy, curtailments in 2024 could decrease to round 13%, said the TSOC.
Renewable energy skilled Dr. Andreas Procopiou suggested that small residential and industrial photograph voltaic PV installations are often not monitored by way of the group operators’ SCADA strategies. In circumstances characterised by vital imbalances between period and demand, group operators can resort to numerous administration methods much like ripple administration.
This supplies them the pliability to exert a particular diploma of administration over smaller installations, and the selection to disconnect them from the group if important. In the meanwhile, the curtailment downside in Cyprus primarily impacts large photograph voltaic vegetation, with no provision for financial compensation for the curtailed period.
Procopiou said that “the nation’s grid operators curtailed about 3.3% and 13.4% of the yearly generated inexperienced energy in 2022 and 2023 respectively.” This solely points the ability from the fashions which is likely to be monitored by the group operators. The TSOC is now anticipating that this willpower will soar as a lot as 28% in 2024.
“This cannot be a sustainable state of affairs for renewable energy merchants,” said Procopiou.
The first lesson for policymakers is that Cyprus urgently needs energy storage, he added.
“Cyprus lined about 20% of its electrical power needs in 2023 by the use of renewables,” said Procopiou. “We gained’t be able to decarbonizing our energy system until we embrace energy storage and new, wise strategies of working our networks.”
Nevertheless devil is inside the particulars, he said.
“The nation’s electrical power market does not have an open, liberalized development and continues to be a reflection of the earlier. The federal authorities must open {the electrical} power market, along with energy storage, to opponents,” outlined Procopiou. “Solely the model new utilized sciences coupled with market aggressive can provide Cyprus the choices it needs.”
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