Filenews 11 August 2025 - by Chrysanthos Manoli
Until 19 September 2025, interested companies have at their disposal to submit their bids to the Cyprus Electricity Authority for the supply and installation of three storage systems in an equal number of substations.
The tender for the first electricity storage fully integrated into the electricity grid was published on Friday, with EAC as the contracting authority. However, according to the legislation approved for this storage and the relevant decision of the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA), the energy from the three storage systems will be managed by the independent Cyprus Transmission System Operator (TSO).
The tender was issued on the basis of Law 140(I)/2016, which concerns the regulation of procurement procedures by entities operating in the water, energy, transport and postal services sectors.
Through the tender, the procurement of three systems is requested:
– One at the EAC substation in Athalassa, with an output power of 40 megawatts and a maximum energy capacity of 80 megawatt hours. That is, it will be able to have up to 40 megawatt hours in the system for two hours.
– A system at the EAC substation in Anatoliko (Paphos) with an output power (discharge) of 40 megawatts and an electricity capacity of 160 megawatt hours (for discharging in 4 hours)
– A system at the EAC substation in the Free Industrial Zone (Larnaca), with an output power (discharge) of 40 megawatts and an electricity capacity of 160 megawatt hours (for discharging in 4 hours).
According to the tender documents, the estimated cost of the three battery systems is 41 million euros, which will be allocated in large part by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The publication does not indicate the amount that will be raised from the European fund. Earlier information indicated that it would be 30 million euros. euro. The deadline for submission of tenders is 19 September.
Their operation is urgent
As Fileleftheros re-wrote, the Transmission System Operator and EAC are coordinating their efforts so that the three storage systems are ready for operation by June 2026, so that the stored energy can be utilized by the Transmission Operator to meet demand at specific times when the production of electricity from photovoltaics decreases or stops and to ensure the smooth operation of the electricity system.
At a recent meeting of executives of the Operator and EAC at the Ministry of Energy, optimism was expressed that the process can run on time, so that batteries can be added to the system's potential next summer.
The installation and utilization of storage systems under the responsibility of the Transmission Operator becomes feasible after a derogation requested by the Ministry of Energy from the European Commission and after the vote by the Parliament of a harmonizing bill submitted by the Government for the Operator to install the batteries in the network and utilize them for the safety of the system. to serve the public interest, without the tender procedures (for battery management) provided for in the EU acquis.
The conditions set by the Regulatory Authority
According to CERA's decision (20/6/25):
– The TSOs will be owned by the TSO,
– In relation to the implementation of the storage facilities, only the projects related to the substation and the equipment for their connection to the transmission system will be included in the Ten-Year Transmission System Development Program (PASM),
– The implementation and connection of the storage systems will be completed by June 2026,
– The activation of (private) storage facilities in the electricity market will ensure (ed. by the TSO) that priority will be given to them for the provision of the relevant services to the TSO.
