THE CYPRUS Electricity Authority has begun raising funds for the implementation of renewable energy sources on the island, a spokesman said yesterday, deducting 0.13 cents per kWh used from electricity bills and putting the money towards harnessing wind power as an alternative generation source.
The EAC is expecting to receive planning permit from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to go ahead and install a wind generator farm in the Kouris damn area consisting of four wind generators. A law was passed by the House last April for the subsidy of renewable energy sources. However, a source at the Applied Energy Centre of the Ministry of Commerce revealed the matter was still under study by the Ministry. No decisions have been reached as to whether or not the EAC will be granted permission to build the wind farm.
EAC spokesperson Costas Gavrielides told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that currently, domestic electricity consumption was subsidised by higher tariffs on the industrial and commercial sectors. However, cross subsidies are not permitted according to the European Union directives, and each consumer category should pay the cost incurred on the network as a result of supplying them with energy.
To solve the discrepancy, the Cyprus Electricity Authority will add an increase of approximately five per cent onto domestic bills and lower commercial and industrial tariffs. Gavrielides was unable to say exactly how much prices would fall in the sector, as there are several levels of tariffs.
“I would like to stress that these changes will not affect the EAC. Our aim is not to increase our income. It will remain the same,” said Gavrielides. “The main reason for the changes is to ensure liberalisation of the industry and to meet with the EU directives.”
Parliament wants the changes in prices to be made in three stages. The first stage was completed on the March 1, 2003. The second stage will be implemented on January 1, 2004 and the date of the third stage will be announced at a later stage.
Renewable energy sources are to be used in the future instead of oil-generated electricity to reduce pollution and lower energy costs. At the moment, approximately 92 per cent of households in Cyprus are covered by roof-mounted solar panels to heat water. However, the exploitation of sun and wind can be used to reduce energy costs and to protect the environment. As far as Cyprus is concerned the clean energy sources that can be used for electricity generation are the solar, wind, biogas energy, and biomass.
Cyprus’ chosen clean energy source is wind, as it is the most successful source of renewable energy. It is the least expensive form of renewable power, produces no dangerous waste and is inexhaustible. Wind turbines use the wind to produce energy. Simply put, the wind turns the blades, which connect to a generator and make electricity.
