Clean energy solutions offer new spark for Europe’s small island nations

Malta and Cyprus crew up with bigger EU nations to extend their clear power capability.

For a lot of Europeans, Cyprus and Malta symbolize a distant Mediterranean paradise. However regardless of their sunny local weather, the 2 are much less in a position to capitalize on their wealth of sunshine and potential clear power than one might anticipate.

One resolution has been for these small island nations to accomplice up with professional analysis companions from larger EU nations, that are largely forward in transferring towards a low-carbon financial system and clean mobility.

Professor George Georghiou and his crew on the FOSS Analysis Heart for Sustainable Vitality on the College of Cyprus have been working since 2016 alongside fellow researchers from the Austrian Institute of Know-how (AIT) and the Technical College of Denmark (DTU)—each established consultants within the subject of photovoltaic (PV) and good power grids—as a part of an EU-funded analysis initiative referred to as TwinPV.

Their shared objective was to discover how Cyprus might higher use PV power to satisfy its rising electrical energy wants and drive analysis and innovation linked to this renewable power useful resource.

The analysis companions ran plenty of case research targeted on your complete photo voltaic power cycle, from PV cells and energy storage to good electrical energy grids and power forecasting. The general purpose was to seek out methods to make use of extra renewable power on the island and finish Cyprus’ reliance on crude oil. This required addressing challenges distinctive to small island nations like Cyprus.

Energy of the solar

Cyprus receives greater than 3,300 hours of daylight per 12 months, which makes it a perfect place to harness photo voltaic power. But, it nonetheless imports most of its power within the type of fossil fuels. In 2019, simply 13.8% of its power got here from photo voltaic and wind power, properly beneath the 19.7% European common, based on Eurostat. The apparent query is: why?

The problem is that renewable energies, comparable to photo voltaic power, are unpredictable and don’t permit the nation to react to its altering power wants. On common, Cyprus receives 4 million vacationers yearly, most of them arriving throughout a couple of quick months. Vitality wants on the island then surge from 300 megawatts within the spring to 1,200 megawatts.

Strategies for storing renewable power are nonetheless sophisticated and dear, making it troublesome to make use of it as the first power supply. A big quantity of surplus power is subsequently not saved for later use, however is as a substitute misplaced. It’s because there may be as but no reference to energy grids in mainland Europe, making it laborious to export surplus power.

“In the rest of Europe, if you produce a lot of electricity, you can always send it to a neighboring country, but Cyprus is an island, not connected to the European energy market,” defined Georghiou. “We cannot transfer our energy, and we also cannot store it because it is too costly.”

In consequence, Cyprus primarily depends on three gas oil-burning stations, and electrical energy costs within the nation are always rising, leaving a lot of the inhabitants threatened by power poverty.

“Cyprus is an isolated network, which makes it difficult for the country to rely solely on solar energy,” stated Georghiou.

Capability constructing

The assistance of extra skilled companions was essential and Georghiou acknowledges that the TwinPV collaboration contributed considerably to constructing analysis capability in Cyprus.

“We gained a lot of knowledge and expertise from our more advanced partners. The project helped us to expand our capabilities and produce relevant research into solar energysmart grids and the integration of renewable energy sources,” stated Georghiou.

One vital end result for Cyprus was the upgrading of the FOSS analysis heart into the PHAETHON Analysis and Innovation Heart of Excellence (CoE) for Clever, Environment friendly and Sustainable Vitality Options beginning in 2024. This transformation, supported by the EU, will create a brand new regional CoE in sustainable energy.

It has additionally led to plans to show the College of Cyprus campus fully “green,” stated Georghiou. A significant new photo voltaic park with battery storage is presently being constructed, which ought to meet a big a part of the college’s electrical energy wants.

Total, using distributed renewable power is increasing in Cyprus, which hopes to spice up its share of renewable energy to 23% by 2030 as a part of its Nationwide Vitality and Local weather Plan. Promisingly, the variety of photovoltaic techniques in Cyprus rose by 66% in 2023 and this pattern is predicted to proceed. Though TwinPV led to December 2018, all of the researchers concerned have continued to work collectively.

“We have formed strategic partnerships and created a win-win situation,” stated Georghiou.

eMobility connection

On the western aspect of the Mediterranean Sea, Dr. Brian Azzopardi, senior lecturer on the Malta School for Arts, Science and Know-how (MCAST) and founding chair of the MCAST Vitality Analysis Group, tells the same story.

As a part of one other EU twinning mission, NEEMO, which ran for 4 years till 2023, Malta has been in a position to considerably enhance its analysis into electrical mobility and clear power.

As a part of this collaborative effort, MCAST additionally joined forces with the Austrian Institute of Know-how (AIT), in addition to with the French Various Energies and Atomic Vitality Fee (CEA) and the Nicosia Growth Company (ANEL) in Cyprus.

“The purpose was to enhance and build research capacity in electric mobility—or eMobility—and its operations in Malta,” stated Azzopardi, who coordinated the mission.

The NEEMO consultants investigated the precise challenges for eMobility in Malta, together with its bodily limitations. Because the island is barely 27 kilometers lengthy, most journeys are quick and there weren’t sufficient charging factors, notably through the busy vacationer intervals.

NEEMO’s deal with micromobility options goals to assist enhance entry to move for all residents, together with these with restricted mobility or restricted entry to public transport.

“We cannot solve all problems of eMobility, but we made substantial contributions to ongoing research,” stated Azzopardi.

This included analysis work into so-called bidirectional energy circulate. That is when charging goes each methods—into the car, as the first purpose, but in addition permitting electrical energy saved within the EV’s battery to circulate again to a home or the facility grid. This will help stabilize the grids, notably as they restart after blackouts.

“This benefits our inhabitants because it helps to improve conditions for electric mobility, which is becoming increasingly popular here in Malta,” he stated.

In parallel with the work of NEEMO researchers on e-Mobility, the Maltese authorities has tapped into EU funds to roll out new grants for the acquisition of electrical autos. The island’s transport authority reported final August a “significant increase” within the sale of electrical and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Basis for analysis

Like TwinPV, the international collaboration initiated by NEEMO has led to vital advances within the analysis and innovation capability of the island. Specifically, by the launch of the Basis for Innovation and Analysis Malta (FiR.mt), which has helped to bridge the hole between business, analysis and the educational neighborhood, stated Azzopardi.

“Until the establishment of FiR, there was no research center in Malta,” stated Azzopardi. “This has definitely been a success, especially in terms of research capacity building.”

Azzopardi additionally credit NEEMO with the truth that Malta’s MCAST faculty was accepted into the European Automotive Analysis Companions Affiliation (EARPA), which brings collectively Europe’s most distinguished impartial R&D suppliers within the automotive sector.

“All this is the legacy of NEEMO. The collaboration jumpstarted a lot of initiatives,” he stated. In return, Malta provides distinctive alternatives for bigger EU nations he believes. “Malta is manageable and reachable. It offers a good environment for nationwide research experiments, which can then be deployed on mainland Europe.”

“There is a lot of talent in our countries, but sometimes a little bit of guidance is needed,” stated Georghiou.

This text was initially printed in Horizon the EU Analysis and Innovation Journal.