power demand — power demand — Cyprus does not expect any electricity supply issues today, despite a forecast record demand of 1,350 MW. Haris Zavallis, deputy director of the Cyprus Transmission System Operator, reassured the public that the National Energy Control Centre is well-equipped to handle the anticipated demand.
Zavallis explained that a unit at Dhekelia has already been delivered, contributing an extra 30 MW to the grid. Additionally, a large unit at Vasilikos is expected to be operational later today, bringing the total available capacity to 1,218 MW.
“If they operate and everything goes smoothly, demand will be fully covered tonight,” Zavallis stated during an interview with ANT1. He noted that the peak demand hours are predicted to occur between 6.30pm and 9.30pm, when the demand is expected to reach around 1,090-1,100 MW.
Today’s demand is anticipated to set a new seasonal record, which Zavallis attributes in part to the sunny weather allowing wind farms to operate at capacity. He assured that the system’s reserve capacity would enable it to manage smaller-scale issues should they arise.
In a related note, Energy Minister Michalis Damianos addressed yesterday’s power cuts, distancing himself from political responsibility. He emphasised that he has only been in office for seven months, pointing out that the issues surrounding power supply in Cyprus are longstanding. “During my time as minister, I will do what is necessary to ensure similar problems do not occur next summer,” he remarked to Omega.
The proactive measures being taken by the Cyprus Transmission System Operator, combined with favourable weather conditions, suggest that today’s electricity supply will remain stable, even amidst record demand.
