The current period in terms of energy efficiency, due to the heat wave, was described as difficult by the spokesperson for the Cyprus Transmission System Operator, Hara Koussiappa. However, she noted that any saving of electricity, to the extent possible, helps us avoid problems.
Invited by CNA to comment on the situation with the increased demand for electricity, due to the very high temperatures, Ms. Kusiappa said that "we are trying to utilize every production capacity" so that it can withstand the requirements and cover the demand without having to make any cuts.
According to Ms. Kusiappa, on Monday afternoon the highest demand so far for this year's summer season was recorded at 1190 megawatts, yesterday Tuesday at 1188 and at 1415, "and we are very close to last year's record recorded on 22/7/2024 at 1294 megawatts."
He noted that "these days we have a low operating margin, which means that in the event of further loss of conventional production, demand may not be able to be met."
In such a case, he said, it will be necessary to make rotational cuts to consumer load that will last a few minutes and will last until production and demand are balanced again.
Although if such a problem arises, he told CNA, "it is most likely to be observed between 6-9 pm, which are the hours when we depend almost exclusively on conventional production."
According to Ms. Kusiappa, "the good thing about the summer season is that the maximum total demand is recorded during the midday hours, which are the hours when we also have high photovoltaic production. She noted that they usually cover 50% of the demand from photovoltaics during the hours of maximum total demand.
For today, "demand is expected to be around 1200 megawatts and around 1000 during the evening peak period. We believe that we will have sufficient capacity, perhaps we will have a low operating margin but demand will be able to be met, barring unforeseen circumstances of course," he pointed out.
We also expect total production for the evening to be around 60 megawatts, he added.
As he explained, "it is good for the public to avoid unnecessary use of electricity between 6-9 pm and to save electricity as much as possible, of course, so as to help avoid problems."
That is, he said, "not to put all the appliances working, such as washing machines, dryers at the same time and turn on the air conditioners throughout the house. Let's limit ourselves to turning them on in the rooms where we will be moving," he added.
He also said "that we are not in a position to say that we do not have enough", while urging that during these days when temperatures and demand are so high, we try to save as much as possible between 6-9 pm.
Furthermore, he stated that the Administrator has asked the EAC to make every effort to be able to deliver by tomorrow, Thursday, when much higher demand and increased temperatures are expected, a unit in Dhekelia with a capacity of 60 megawatts.
There are, he clarified, some units in Dhekelia and Vasiliko that are out of operation due to a breakdown. "We asked the EAC to repair and deliver a specific unit, which it seems they will be able to deliver to us, for 60 megawatts," he clarified.
He explained that the data is constantly being evaluated throughout the day and "our maximum conventional generation capacity for today as it is right now, with the machines we have right now is at 1122 megawatts."
When asked if the Turkish Cypriot side is also being supplied with electricity, he said that "the flow of energy from part A to part B at the moment and vice versa is zero." It has been agreed, he said, that there will be zero energy flow during this period. Of course, because the system is connected, in the event of a failure, one system always affects the other. However, the responsible engineers then take over and limit the damage, he added.
Source: KYPE
