Malas calls for renewable energy storage to secure Cyprus’ energy future

Pentakomo, Cyprus. Cyprus Institute president Stavros Malas said neither diesel nor natural gas could provide a long-term solution to Cyprus’ energy needs, calling for sustainable energy storage to be developed alongside renewable generation.

He made the remarks on Friday during a visit by Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nicodemos Damianou to the Cyprus Institute’s PROTEAS research facility in Pentakomo.

Renewable energy and storage

Malas described PROTEAS as “a miniature version of Cyprus as it should be”, saying the facility was testing technologies for renewable energy production and energy storage.

As a geographically isolated island, Cyprus must consider both greener electricity generation and viable, long-term ways to store energy, he said.

“The transition needs to be planned now if we do not want to remain a country producing very expensive electricity,” Malas said.

“Neither the fuel we have now, diesel, nor natural gas are long-term solutions,” he added.

Government interest in innovation

Damianou described PROTEAS as “a living example of what Cyprus wants to become”, where cutting-edge technologies can be tested and innovative solutions developed for wider application.

He said the facility showed that Cyprus could become more than an energy consumer and could attract innovative companies able to develop solutions for a changing energy landscape.

“The reason I am here is to see and examine, as a government, these innovative solutions being implemented at PROTEAS,” Damianou said.