The need for long-term planning, due to climate change, has been highlighted by energy expert Charles Ellinas.
When asked by CNA to comment on the issue of the recent power outages, he explained what should have been done and what was not done, noting that we are reacting to individual problems, instead of planning long-term and preventing situations.
On his part, EAC Chairman George Petrou told CNA that the EAC is working feverishly to implement measures that will alleviate the problem of power cuts in the future.
Charalambos Ellinas said, "We have problems in everything. It's not just electricity. It's water, drought, fires, everywhere. The reason is that we don't plan. We react. A problem arises and we go to fix it. And so we go from problem to problem, without long-term planning."
He stressed that climate change “has changed everything.” The temperature has risen globally by 1.5 degrees, and in Cyprus even more, because in the Mediterranean, the temperature is rising more than anywhere else, by about 20%.
"It will continue to rise. What we knew is not valid for tomorrow. In order to cope, we need to make plans based on these changes. To take into account climate change and what we expect to happen in the next 20-30 years," he said.
Referring to the problem of electricity cuts, Ellinas explained that today we have more demand than before, due to climate change, due to the increased use of air conditioners and desalination.
What should have been done already?
Asked about the measures that should have been taken for electrical adequacy, Ellinas referred to the need to replace the generators in Dhekelia, the delay in the arrival of natural gas and the installation of energy storage systems (referred to as batteries), a monopoly on RES, the failure to upgrade the network, and the non-existent electrical interconnection.
"We knew that the units in Dhekelia are very old, we need to close them, put something new in. We didn't do it. We know that we need to bring in natural gas, we've known it for 15 years and we haven't managed to do it yet and we don't even know when it will come."
When it comes to RES, we have ended up having a monopoly that does not benefit the situation. We knew for years that we wanted to install batteries, we didn't do it, we are still trying.
The network needs an upgrade, we haven't done it, we're waiting. Do we know how much electricity we'll need by 2030, 2040, 2050, so that we can plan and have it ready and not go from one problem to another? We haven't planned it," he stressed.
Responding to what can be done today, he said that the first thing that needs to be done is to expedite the arrival of natural gas. "We have units ready, the EAC and PEC engines are ready to go into operation if there was natural gas. We have the 'Prometheus', the pier is half finished, the project is not finished.
We got 'Prometheus' last year, almost a year ago. A year has passed and this project is still not finished. Why are we delaying? Now I hear that it may not be finished until 2029. Why?", he wondered and added that "it's also the cable.
If it existed at this moment, we wouldn't have electricity problems, we would have imported. And now we hear the Ministry of Energy wanting it, the Ministry of Finance not wanting it in any way, and the President not saying anything. Why?", he asked again.
Ellinas also noted that for all the above issues, there is no question of money. "The money is there. We did not do the planning and the necessary work. They could have been done at any time, the money is there for them," he reiterated.
In conclusion, Ellinas said that it is a shame that this is happening, because "the knowledge exists, we know the problems, we know the solutions, and we sit and wait." He added that the state must make the necessary plans using knowledge from universities and with the input of experts.
Over 18 months for the new generators in Dhekelia
On his part, the Chairman of the EAC, George Petrou, said that "the only solution that exists is the installation of new generators in Dhekelia."
This, he explained, has been delayed for years for various reasons. "Now we are moving at a rapid pace, I believe we will soon conclude with the tenders," so that orders can be placed for the new generators.
He pointed out, however, that there is "tremendous demand" for generators in the market, resulting in their delivery taking no less than 18 months.
"That's where we have to end up, there is no other solution for full sufficiency," he said, explaining that the new generators are expected to provide additional conventional production of approximately 80-90MW.
Regarding the installation of batteries, Petrou said that "we have moved forward," noting that the Administrator has been issuing bids since Friday for three locations where batteries will be installed.
As he said, the EAC is proceeding with bids for the installation of batteries in Dhekelia and a study is also being conducted to install batteries at the Moni station.
"This is a solution that will help, because during those hours when RES cannot supply, we will be able to absorb some energy, so that efficiency increases," he noted.
Furthermore, when asked about the long-term plan to meet the growing needs for electricity demand, he said that "we are working feverishly for the arrival of natural gas. Very large units will be added there, both from the EAC and from private individuals, so the problem is solved."
As he said, by 2029 several units in Dhekelia will have to be removed. Natural gas will replace their production and will also provide additional production.
Regarding powercuts on 12 August, Petoru said that four machines were out of service. "One is returning today, for the other three, colleagues are working feverishly to restore them," he said.
Asked what the constant breakdowns are due to, he said that "we have machines that are very old. Also, the fact that we are constantly turning them on and off creates a fatigue problem. It is inevitable that breakdowns will occur."
However, he noted that if the four machines had been available on the night of 12 August, there would have been no problem. "We lost serious production and the TSO is taking its measures correctly and is not waiting until the last minute, for safety reasons, that is why the micro-cuts were made, a few minutes in each area," he explained.
He repeated the request to save energy during the critical hours between 6.30pm-9pm.
As he said, after 9pm consumption decreases and there is no issue of adequacy.
Asked if there is a possibility of targeted notification before the cuts, he replied that the TSO informed about this on the afternoon of 12 August, but there is no possibility for more targeted information.
(Sources: InBusinessNews, CNA)
