Drawing up a longterm energy strategy
Our country’s options to tackle global changes in the energy sector are decreasing year after year.
An integrated and long-term national energy strategy and policy is more than necessary, taking into account all aspects of the matter, such as hydrocarbon management, heating and cooling, transport, electricity and energy saving.
It is necessary to redefine Cyprus’ priorities concerning energy, which should be, among other things (a) a long-term energy strategy aiming at gradual decrease in the country’s dependency on fossil fuel and the introduction of natural gas, (b) limiting energy waste with saving and the rational use of energy, especially in the energy-consuming building sector, (c) the use of decentralised power generation as much as possible; and (d) the rational and effective promotion of renewable energy sources especially solar power, which provides, under certain conditions, energy efficiency while helping to protect the environment.
Listed below are suggestions for actions needed to develop an integrated energy strategy for Cyprus.
Developing energy-saving activities such as: (a) raising awareness amongst consumers by distributing educational material in order to boost energy consciousness in terms of energy efficiency, energy saving and energy management; (b) continue to develop and implement sustainable methods and standards in line with the optimal life cycle analysis of each product or process; (c) develop appropriate structures and keep up with technological advancements (d) establish the use of efficient electrification technologies in the transport sector; (e) develop new processes that will improve productivity, the quality end-product and energy use; and (f) further reduce energy losses, improve the design of the future power system and increase the efficiency of power generation, transmission and distribution systems.
Developing strategies regarding the use of alternative fuel and the electrification of the transport sector, including the public transport sector, such as (a) the use of sustainable biomass for conversion into biofuel that can be mixed with and distributed with petrol; (b) promoting the use of highenergy-efficient biofuels; (c) promoting and supporting legislation on the use of natural gas in the transport sector; (d) increasing efficiency in transport and promoting the use of hybrid and electric cars, (e) promoting the installation of charging points for electric cars in cities and highways, (f) the integration of electric vehicles in the electrical system by developing flexible pricing and standards; and (g) an assessment of the actual costs or benefits to the public health from the use of alternative fuels and from the electrification of the transport sector.
Developing strategies on the use of renewable energy sources for power generation such as (a) promoting the use of renewable energy sources by offering energy security with no greenhouse gas emissions; (b) transforming the current transmission and distribution network into a smart grid which will facilitate the increased use of renewable energy sources for power generation, storage systems and electric cars; (c) continuous development of the power grid including design for electrical interconnections with other countries and the use of storage systems to achieve further introduction of renewable energy sources for electricity generation for the benefit of society; and (d) continuous review of the electricity market rules with the aim to achieve high participation of renewable energy sources for electricity production in connection with the use of electrical interconnections and energy storage systems.
Developing strategies for the use of renewable energy sources such as solar energy and geothermal heating for heating and cooling such as (a) developing a stable and predictable investment environment as uncertainty increases the risk and hence the cost of such investments, which should have yields commercially competitive with corresponding investments in technologies related to fossil resources; (b) continuous and adequate training of plumbers and installers for the successful installation of heating and cooling technologies based on RES, as in order to achieve high quality facilities training programs are required, and (c) to introduce a procedure for assuring standards for the application of various heating and cooling technologies from renewable energy sources.
Cypriot hydrocarbon development should take the Norwegian model as an example and create similar structures and activities, i.e. (a) as in the case of Norway, oil resources belong to the Cypriot people and should be managed in such a way that benefit the whole of the Cypriot society.
It is necessary to codify the ten Cypriot mandates for hydrocarbons, (b) create a fund for the management of revenues from indigenous hydrocarbon deposits in a reliable and transparent manner, while implementing safeguards for continuous control.
The fund should be the main element of social solidarity of generations that will support Cyprus’ social insurance system for decades and at the same time be a huge geoeconomic push for our country with the solution of basic problems of the national economy and (c) making full use of Cyprus’ hydrocarbon resources with a view to sustainable development.
In conclusion, now is the time to invest in new sustainable technologies, optimally manage our energy resources and energy needs, reduce the environmental impact and ensure our future energy security.
The policies to be developed must be a result of consultation and accepted by the State, in order for them to be accepted by all parliamentary parties and competent bodies of the State ensuring the continuity and consistency of Cyprus’ energy strategy. Dr. Andreas Poullikkas is President of the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA) www.cera.org.cy