The increased demand for electricity amid high temperatures can be met, provided there are no outages at the power plants, said Chara Kousiappa, spokesperson for the Cyprus Transmission System Operator (CTSO), in a statement to CNA on Tuesday.

As she noted, demand has been rising in recent days due to high temperatures. On Monday at 2:30 p.m., it reached 1,156 megawatts (MW), while around 8:00 p.m. it stood at 921 MW, a level she described as relatively high for the evening hours.

“We have sufficient capacity to meet demand,” said Ms. Kousiappa, noting that, according to the Operator’s forecasts, peak total demand during this summer is expected to range between 1,260 and 1,300 MW.

She explained that peak total demand is usually recorded around noon, when there is a high contribution from Renewable Energy Sources (RES). During the afternoon peak, when the system relies almost entirely on conventional generation, demand is expected to range between 1,060 and 1,090 MW.

“It appears that demand will be met, provided, of course, that there are no outages,” he said. She added that if outages occur at power plants, it is impossible to make a reliable forecast, as outages are unpredictable.

Ms. Kousiappa noted that the plants are operating continuously and under stress due to high temperatures, which increases the likelihood of malfunctions. In such a case, she said, there may not be sufficient supply, and the Hellenic System Operator (HSO) may take the measures applied in similar circumstances, such as calls to curtail demand during specific hours.

He also did not rule out the possibility of rotating load shedding to balance supply and demand, emphasizing, however, that “at this time, it does not appear that we have a problem.”

Referring to the relationship between temperature and consumption, she explained that demand is influenced both by the temperature itself and by whether the days of high temperatures are consecutive. When high temperatures persist for many days, she said, buildings heat up and the use of air conditioners increases further.

“We believe that demand will reach higher levels if the hot days continue,” he said, reiterating that during the afternoon peak, demand of 1,060–1,090 MW is expected to be met.

Regarding the contribution of renewable energy sources, the Hellenic Electricity Transmission System Operator (HETS) spokesperson said that there have been periods during which they covered up to 70% of demand, for many hours a day and for consecutive days.

As temperatures rise and the load remains high even in the afternoon hours, RES coverage of demand has recently hovered around 60%. On Monday, it was expected to reach a peak of approximately 65%, though final figures were not yet available.

Ms. Kousiappa explained that, despite high overall demand during midday hours, the required conventional generation is at lower levels due to high renewable energy production. In contrast, during the evening peak, roughly between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m., renewable energy generation is nearly zero, with the exception of possible wind generation in the range of 40–50 MW.

For example, on Monday at 2:30 p.m., of the 1,156 MW of total demand, 394 MW were covered by conventional generation and the remainder by renewable energy sources. At 8:00 p.m., however, of the 921 MW in demand, 896 MW were generated by conventional plants.

“That’s why the critical hours, during which we rely on conventional plants, are in the afternoon,” he said, explaining that sunlight decreases while demand remains high.

As she noted, people are returning to their homes and using air conditioners and other electrical appliances, causing consumption to remain at high levels.

Finally, Ms. Kousiappa noted that the most recent record for peak demand was set on July 22, 2024, reaching 1,294 MW. Given that this year’s peak demand is projected to be between 1,260 and 1,300 MW, she noted that it is likely the record will be broken.

Source: CNA