The Conference took place on the sidelines of the exhibition "SAVENERGY 2022"
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the premises of the International Exhibition, where the 16th Energy Saving Exhibition "Savenergy" is taking place.
The objective set by the organizers for the promotion of renewable energy and energy saving technologies is one of the major priorities of our Ministry, so I would like to thank the Federation of Employers and Industrialists for organizing the exhibition and wish it every success.
I would like to start by highlighting some data concerning the situation in our country, which are not presented in their true dimension in the public debate. Despite the contrary impressions that public statements attempt to create in public opinion, Cyprus has managed not only to meet its energy targets for 2020, which were our country's commitments to the European Union and the Paris Climate Agreement, but also to exceed them. But that is no reason to undo all the hard work we have achieved. On the contrary, we must continue to work with conviction and determination to achieve the new, even more ambitious targets we are working on for 2030 together with the relevant Ministries and our scientific advisors.
Let us first see what we have achieved by the end of 2020.
- 17% RES contribution to final energy consumption, instead of the 13% target.
- 38.55% RES in heating and cooling, compared to the indicative target of 23.5%.
- The mandatory 2020 target for end-use energy savings has been exceeded.
- The national indicative target in relation to primary energy consumption was achieved by 100%.
- The national indicative target for energy savings in relation to final energy consumption was achieved by 120%.
- With a slight delay, in 2021 we also exceeded the 2020 indicative target of 16% RES in electricity generation.
- In 2020 we had 612 GWh of annual electricity production from RES, of which 39% from wind farms, 51% from photovoltaic systems and 10% from biomass.
These achievements are by no means negligible, especially considering that we are a country with unique characteristics and objective difficulties in the rapid development of RES. We have managed to bring our targets to fruition despite:
- the lack of electrical interconnection with other countries,
- the limited availability of land,
- the limited wind potential,
- the lack of water resources for hydropower generation, and
- the high cost of photovoltaics that until 2014 - 2015 made the use of solar technology unprofitable.
If one does not take into account the wider circumstances, the economic crisis we faced as a country, the constraints and the economic impact of the pandemic that followed, the implementation of our targets is an achievement that we must highlight, as it is a development that changes the direction of our economy every day, making it greener.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In describing what we have achieved, we are not ignoring the realities that challenge me and my colleagues in the Ministry.
The new, even more ambitious objectives that we are setting require us to focus our attention, with absolute consistency, on the demands of the times. But we are optimistic that we have succeeded with the reforms that have been carried out and that lead from October to the opening of the electricity market, with the formulation of the national strategy for green transition which will be financed with more than €330 million over the next seven years from the Interregional Funds, the Cyprus Tomorrow Plan and national resources, with the promotion of the EuroAsia Interconnector project which was approved in January this year for €657 million.
Step by step we are moving confidently, steadily and dynamically, aiming to increase the penetration of RES in our energy mix.
Step by step we are moving confidently, steadily and dynamically, aiming to increase the penetration of RES in our energy mix. And we are not stopping here. With an eye on climate neutrality in 2050, we want to continue to actively pursue the production of sustainable fuels such as hydrogen and green biogas, as well as the promotion of energy storage systems.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Unfortunately, energy policy, which is largely co-designed with our European partners, and this is something we should not ignore, often falls victim to political controversy and, in particular, to those who believe that by undoing what we have achieved, they are hurting the government. I often hear expressions such as "you achieved your goals because you set the bar too low" or "you did not exploit the country's solar potential as much as you should have."
We respond to political nihilism with documentation and plans for the future. Those who use these arguments should be aware that under the prevailing conditions in the economy in general, and in the energy economy in particular, until 2014-2015 it was impossible to proceed at the rates of renewable energy integration that other European countries were proceeding at. This is because these countries invested in other, cheaper energy sources than solar energy, such as water and air, which they had in abundance.
I will give you some examples. In this country the total penetration of RES in electricity generation reaches 42.94%, of which 21.38% comes from wind, 11.5% from hydro and 7.75% from solar.
- In Italy the total penetration of RES in electricity generation is 38%, with hydro generating 15.44% of the energy, wind 6.38% and photovoltaics 8.03%.
- In Italy the total penetration of RES in electricity generation is 38%, with hydro generating 15.44% of the energy, wind 6.38% and photovoltaics 8.03%.
- In Italy the total penetration of RES in electricity generation is 38%, with hydro generating 15.44% of the energy, wind 6.38% and photovoltaics 8.03%.
- In Greece, with a similar solar potential to Cyprus, 35.86% of electricity comes from RES, of which 17% from wind, 9.86% from hydro and 8.35% from solar systems.
- In the European Union of 27, the total penetration of RES in electricity generation in 2020, amounted to 37.48% with only 5.22% from solar energy, with Cyprus achieving 6.10%.
- In the European Union of 27, the total penetration of RES in electricity generation in 2020, amounted to 37.48% with only 5.22% from solar energy, with Cyprus achieving 6.10%.
- In the European Union of 27, the total penetration of RES in electricity generation in 2020, amounted to 37.48% with only 5.22% from solar energy, with Cyprus achieving 6.10%. Between 2010 and 2020 Europe invested more in wind power because it was the most ready technology to go and the most competitive compared to conventional fuels.
The above, we at the Ministry of Energy believe, proves that sunshine is not enough to replace fossil fuels in energy production. Much more is required. Above all, the right techno-economic conditions.
The main obstacle until the middle of the last decade to the development of solar technology was, according to a comparison of international construction prices for renewable energy projects, high prices. Solar technology started to become competitive with conventional fuels after 2015. As can be seen if we promoted solar energy more intensively, the cost to the consumer would be higher. Therefore, the boost we have given to photovoltaics from 2015 onwards, and by extension the progress we have achieved, reflects the correct policy we have followed.
Specifically.
- In 2020, solar energy in Cyprus accounted for 51% of the total electricity production from RES, which was the second highest among the Member States.
- Compared to the penetration rates of solar energy in the total production from 2013 to date, Cyprus shows a 4.5 times increase.
- Compared to the penetration rates of solar energy in the total production from 2013 to date, Cyprus shows a 4.5 times increase. Only three countries out of the whole EU have a higher penetration of solar energy in their energy mix, and they started with a lower rate than Cyprus.
Our planning over the last six years has been multi-layered. From 2016 to 2021 in the YEEB we have gone ahead with significant incentives, giving grants that include solar energy development.
- We have launched grant schemes for energy upgrades for homes and businesses amounting to over €80 million.
- In the years 2017-2019 we launched support projects for the installation of commercial renewable energy systems for electricity generation, which attracted significant investments in the installation of large photovoltaic parks. In this context, 130 new systems will be interconnected to the electricity grid by the end of 2022.
Given that conditions are now favourable, solar technology is much cheaper and efficient, renewable energy storage technology has matured, the opening of the electricity market in the autumn, we are introducing the institution of the one stop centre for the licensing of renewable energy projects and, finally, we have taken care to secure €334 million.
In 2021 we have announced grant schemes for energy upgrading and installation of renewables in excess of €40 million.
In 2021 we have announced grant schemes for energy upgrading and installation of renewables in excess of €40 million. In 2022, the total amount announced in projects will more than double and will exceed €90 million, more than the total amount announced in the period 2015-2020,
- the project for energy upgrading of local authorities and public authorities, €9 million
- the project for installation of a photovoltaic system for charging an electric vehicle, €1.5 million, will follow in March-April,
- and the project for the installation or replacement of a solar water heater, €450 thousand,
- while in April - May will also open the Projects, €7 million, of the RES and EE Fund for the installation of photovoltaic panels and roof insulation, with the inclusion of virtual net metering and with an increase in the grant per beneficiary in the photovoltaic sector.
- At the end of 2022, the Residential Energy Upgrade Project will also be re-launched, for a total grant of €35 million.
In terms of large investments, we are promoting two projects for storage systems combined with RES, with a total budget of more than €80 million expected to be allocated by 2029. Our aim is for the first project to be tendered before the end of this year.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has created a huge global crisis, which is hitting the energy economy hard. A crisis that comes just as the planet seemed poised to emerge from the previous pandemic crisis. These unforeseen factors cannot be ignored by all of us who plan and implement, and certainly not by those who invest in any sector.
But what I wanted to highlight above all is our sensitivity to the impact on citizens and businesses. As a Government, we are vigilant, with measures that you already know we have taken and others that we are planning in cooperation with our European partners, to deal with the consequences of this abnormal situation.
In conclusion, I want to point out that our Ministry feels a heavy responsibility to promote and accelerate the rapid transition to green energy. We are well on our way. We have a plan, we have the will, we have the conditions to succeed for the first time in the history of the Republic of Cyprus in connecting our country with the rest of Europe in terms of energy. To make technological leaps, to create energy sufficiency in our country. After all, the goal for the prosperity of citizens, businesses and the country is common.
Thank you.
(GA/MB/IK)
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
Source
