Innovative renewable energy storage project, possible solution for Med islands

Cyprus is going to be a testing ground for an innovative pilot-project for community energy storage system (ESS) which aims to increase grid-connected renewable energy storage on the island and possibly become a solution for Mediterranean islands to increase their energy independence.

German Electric utility company, Autarsys GmbH, which delivered and commissioned the first ESS in Cyprus, has made the system ready for initial testing.

The Autarsys’ intelligent energy management systems (iEMS) is a software that makes wind and solar power fields more energy-efficiency and cost-effective, according to Powermag portal.

Residents of the solar-powered homes in Cyprus, for example, are allowed to independently generate renewable energy but many of them still not use this opportunity given the investment costs. Those who use the system, often need to purchase power from the grid in order to fill the generation gaps which increases costs.

The renewable energy storage system that is going to be tested has a capacity of 75 kWh and an inverter that can produce up to 30 kW of power. In one of Nicosia’s neighborhoods the German company employed a substation connected to houses with photovoltaic rooftop systems of 3kWp.

By understanding how to optimize the location of the ESS in relation to the national grid, it will be possible to improve the connectivity of storage and energy management systems, explained Venizelos Efthymiou, chairman of FOSS Research Centre at the University of Cyprus.

The University of Cyprus and Aerotricity, local company operating in the renewable energy sector have cooperated with Autarsys on this project. Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA), the Ministry of Energy, and the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (DSO) have been also participating.

Possible solution for Mediterranean islands 

Matthias Ross, Autarsys co-founder believes that “energy storage systems combined with PV fields can be the solution for Mediterranean islands that want to decrease their reliance on imported fossil fuels and increase their energy independence,” Powermag quoted him.

This project is part of the EUR 2 million Promotion of higher penetration of distributed PV through storage for all (StoRES), under the umbrella of the MED Programme of the EU’s European Regional Development Fund.

The MED Programme’s goal is to promote the economic competitiveness of the Mediterranean region in accordance with the Lisbon Strategy and environmental protections in accordance with the Goteborg Strategy.