Nicosia, Cyprus. The Electricity Market Association (EMA) said on Monday that although battery storage is crucial to reducing electricity costs, the state is restricting the use of the technology. It said energy poverty remains a major challenge, with electricity bills in Cyprus among the highest in the European Union.
Use of renewable energy
The association said Cyprus’ green energy transition concerns more than increasing renewable energy production or meeting EU targets.
It said the key issue is the effective use of green energy in a way that delivers a real benefit to consumers.
As technology advances, electricity does not need to be consumed when it is generated, the EMA said. This is particularly relevant for solar power, as production does not always coincide with periods of peak demand.
Solar energy cuts
Without storage, a significant share of low-cost solar energy cannot be fully used, the association said.
It referred to forced interruptions to commercial and household solar production when output exceeds demand. According to the EMA, cuts to large photovoltaic parks reached 60 per cent last April.
From January 1 to May 1, losses from household photovoltaic systems would have been enough to cover the annual electricity needs of around 7,500 households, it said.
“Clean and inexpensive energy is being thrown away,” the association added.
Storage for households and businesses
The EMA said combining photovoltaic systems with storage batteries would allow households and businesses to use more of the electricity they generate.
Instead of supplying excess power to the grid and later purchasing electricity at a higher price, consumers could store the energy for use when needed, it said.