A report on an innovative energy storage system, estimated to cost between €7 million and €7.5 million, is currently before the Environmental Authority. The project is a joint venture between the Cyprus Institute and Altum Mare Ltd, proposed for development in the Pentakomo community in the Limassol district.
What does the report cover?
The report concerns a pilot energy storage system, classified among projects that serve the development and testing of new technological methods or products. The experimental unit’s estimated construction and operating period is set at 24 months from its official start of operation.
What is Proteas?
The Proteas solar research facility is a platform for observation and research into solar energy technology applications, run by the Cyprus Institute. It is an internationally significant piece of infrastructure that places Cyprus in a leading global position in solar thermal energy research.
Proteas’s modern facilities in Pentakomo focus on developing cutting-edge technologies for renewable energy sources, tackling climate change, and integrated systems that combine green energy or heat production with desalinated water production for agricultural needs.
How does the storage system work?
Proteas runs an experimental unit specialising in the development of concentrated solar power (CSP) systems suited to island and coastal environments, with particular emphasis on small units (under 25 MWth) with large storage capacity. These units are suitable for remote areas or areas connected to low-power grids.
Beyond the onshore construction, the energy storage system includes the installation of a compressed air system, which will consist of three air tank systems at a water depth of 100 metres. The offshore installation, meaning the pipes, connects the underwater air tanks to an onshore shaft on the beach.
Why does this matter for Cyprus?
State interest in this research ecosystem was confirmed by a recent visit to the facilities by the Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Michalis Damianou. According to the minister, the storage technologies being studied and tested at Proteas offer solutions that differ from traditional battery-based systems.
These alternative, innovative approaches are considered particularly critical for Cyprus, as they aim to preserve and supply energy for longer hours during the night, covering the large demand gaps that emerge after sunset.