Cyprus to export energy from renewables

By the end of 2027 Cyprus will have an excess of renewable energy that could be exported or exchanged, in addition to the quantities that could be available from Egypt, Israel and Greece, President Nicos Anastasiades said on Friday in his address at the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum Energy Transition Conference hosted in Nicosia.

Anastasiades noted that Cyprus can become a net exporter of electricity at capacities that could range from 120 gigawatt-hours in 2027 to over 1,800 GWh in 2033. 

He said Cyprus, due to its strategic location and its excellent relations and long-standing partnerships in the field of energy with neighboring countries, at a bilateral, regional and multilateral level, stands ready to make its own contribution and be an active part of the energy solutions that this region has to offer.

“A role we have already assumed through the start of the construction phase of the EuroAsia Interconnector between Cyprus, Greece and Israel, as well as the preparations under way for also launching the EuroAfrica Interconnector, which will connect Cyprus, Greece and Egypt,” he added.

Anastasiades said, “According to current status and planning, it is estimated that by the end of 2027, once the first interconnection is in place, Cyprus will have an excess of renewable energy that could be exported or exchanged, in addition to the quantities that could be available from Egypt, Israel and Greece.”

“Consequently, Cyprus can become a net exporter of electricity at capacities that could range from 120 GWh in 2027, up to 1,000 GWh in 2030, and exceeding 1,800 GWh in 2033,” he added.

He noted, “We also stand ready to examine possibilities and proposals of connecting various natural gas fields in Cyprus-Israel-Egypt, with Lebanon joining in the next few days, with either existing or new infrastructure, through which gas can be exported to Europe.”

As regards the East Med’s potential contribution to the EU’s efforts to diversify energy sources and routes, the president said this may be achieved by transferring East Med natural gas, either as LNG or through pipelines, hydrogen that will be produced in the region in the medium and long term, and clean energy from renewables exported to Europe via electrical interconnections, stressing “the Eastern Mediterranean can assume a key role to this end.”