Filenews 19 November 2020 - by Petros Theoharidis
Three applications for connection to the electricity grid of private power plants are in the process of being approved by the Transmission System Operator, which is projected to produce an additional 565 megawatts, and applications for a 125 megawatt renewable park connection are under way. They concern a solar thermal park of 50 megawatts, wind farms of 30 megawatts and photovoltaics of 45 megawatts in total.
Euroasia Interconnector, with 1,000 megawatts (two 500 megawatt connections), will make a difference to the energy security of Cyprus.
These figures are revealed in the Transport System Operator's (TSO) plan for the 10-year plan for the development of The Electricity Network of Cyprus for the period 2020 - 2030. According to its forecast for 2021, the expected peak demand for extreme weather will reach a level of 1205 megawatts (MW). There is no concern about adequacy, since we will have 1415 MW from power stations, i.e. 827 MW from Vasilikos, 460 MW from Dekelia and 128 MW from the Monastery, plus production from renewable energy sources.
For 2025, the expected sharp demand for extreme weather will be around 1320 MW, an increase of 115 MW compared to 2021. Adequacy problems are not expected for 2025 either, since we will have a conventional production of 1455 MW, coming from Vasilikos 977 MW (150 more than 2021), Dekelia 100 MW (since the six steam turbine units producing 360 MW) and 128 MW from the Monastery will be deactivated from 2023. In 2025, the electricity system and 250 MW from the private power station in Vasilikos will already be offered.
Peak demand for extreme weather for the year 2030 is expected to be around 1380 MW, i.e. it will increase by only 60 MW compared to 2025 and by 175 MW compared to 2021.
As specified by the Transmission System Operator, the monastery's gas turbines are not used, as they are considered peak units and replacement reserves. In addition, they have a limit on the permitted operating hours due to pollutants, which amounts to 500 hours per year for each gas turbine.
The projected installed power 2021 in photovoltaics will be 350 MW in 2021, increase to 483 MW by 2025 and reach 650 MW in 2030.
Substations with 1975 equipment
Important elements of network problems that are susceptible to causing electricity interruptions in specific areas are revealed - due to the proposed improvements required - in the Transmission System Operator (TSO) plan for the ten-year plan for the development of the electricity network of Cyprus for the period 2020 - 2030.
In conditions of loss of the line "Royal - Monastery" for example, overload (133%) will occur. of the line "Royal - Polemidia". This will result in the loss of the wider Limassol and Paphos region.
There are also reports of the need to replace old equipment, on which the electrification of entire areas depends. How old the equipment of some substations in the electricity grid is, it's hard to believe. For example, it is envisaged to replace the stop equipment in the "Protaras" substation, which is built in 1987, has completed 33 years of useful life and already presents several problems. Among other things, it is stated for equipment of the substation, that "it presents problems (oil leakage) while it has been considered that its maintenance is unprofitable after repeated attempts at repair and maintenance.
If the equipment in Protaras seems old, how will it sound that at the "Laiteio" substation in Limassol, on which the safety of the electricity network in the centre of Limassol depends, some switches will be replaced, because it is 1975?
Connection hub with the outside world Kofinou
By the year 2024 the substation "Kofinou" will be upgraded from an outdoor type to a sub-housed type to meet the connection "Royal - Marie - Kofinou" and "Kofinou - Alhambra" but also because the substation "Kofinou" has been designated as a connection point of the electricity network of Cyprus with the "Euroasia Interconnector" that will connect Israel, Cyprus and Crete.
The implementing body of the "Euroasia Interconnector" has already submitted an application for connection to the electricity system of Cyprus and the Transmission System Operator has issued the preliminary connection conditions. Procedures are also under way for approval of the Euroafrica Interconnector interface.
