EAC to build energy storage systems in Dhekelia and Moni with a combined capacity of 360 MWh

The Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) will build electricity storage systems at power stations in Dhekelia and Moni. The aim is to reduce losses of energy generated by renewable sources during peak generation hours, company spokesperson Christina Papadopoulou said on Wednesday.

The Dhekelia storage system will have a power capacity of 80 MW and an energy capacity of 160 MWh. The contract for its construction was signed with the Cyprus Telecommunications Authority (Cyta) in February and cost taxpayers €33,733,640, while the system is expected to be commissioned in September next year.

The installation in Moni will be larger, with a power capacity of 100 MW and an energy capacity of 200 MWh. The Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA) has already issued the construction permit, and EAC has submitted an application for connection terms to the transmission system operator. The Department of Environment is to publish an environmental impact assessment report, while the Limassol district administration has not yet completed its review of the planning application.

There is no precise estimate for Moni yet: EAC puts the project at approximately €50 million and expects the work to take a year. Construction is expected to begin early next year.

That same morning, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) called for the development of energy storage infrastructure to be accelerated in order to make fuller use of renewable sources and reduce curtailment of solar generation. The chamber also called for the transition to natural gas in power generation to be accelerated and for the licensing of energy projects to be simplified.

The government insists that bills are already falling. Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis cited Eurostat data showing that electricity in Cyprus costs 15% less than in 2024. VAT on electricity has been reduced from 19% to 9% until March next year, while more than 429,000 households and 106,000 businesses receive bill subsidies.