The Cyprus Department of the Environment has approved the construction and operation of a modern energy storage facility with a capacity of 59 MW and a storage capacity of 120 MWh in the Psevdás community in the Larnaca district. H.E.S.S. Hybrid Energy Storage Systems Ltd will implement the project. According to the department's assessment, a full environmental impact assessment is not required, as the potential risks can be minimised by complying with the established conditions.
But what is an energy storage facility?
The facility will be constructed on a 49,165 m² site in Zone D1. This area was previously designated for livestock farming, but is now considered unsuitable for agricultural production. It will include 59 industrial batteries, each with a capacity of 2 MW and installed in container modules, as well as eight transformer units, 259 energy converters, a control centre and auxiliary facilities. Space has also been allocated for the future installation of 14 additional batteries.
The system will draw electricity from the grid during off-peak hours, convert it to direct current and store it, and then return it to the grid during peak consumption periods. This will stabilise the electricity supply, reduce the risk of outages and improve the reliability of the national power system.
Environmental conditions and protective measures
During construction, there may be some negative temporary impacts, such as the removal of vegetation, earthworks, noise, dust, construction waste and increased traffic on the road network. To minimise these impacts, measures such as transplanting olive trees, reusing soil, moistening surfaces to control dust, installing underground cables, banning chemical reagents and creating a waste and stormwater management system have been planned. In the future, the project will be further 'camouflaged' with greenery to blend harmoniously into the landscape.
It is estimated that approximately 4.38 million kWh per year will be consumed for technical needs and equipment cooling during operation. Hazardous waste, such as machine oils, will be disposed of in strict accordance with regulations.
Opinions of government agencies and project prospects
The Ministry of Agriculture has expressed concern about the change in land status, as the site is located in an area with limited livestock potential. However, the Forestry Department and the Water Resources Department did not raise any objections provided that environmental requirements are met, including the protection of groundwater systems and nearby watercourses.
Having considered all the details, the Cyprus Department of Environmental Protection concluded that a detailed environmental impact study was not required for the project. This significantly accelerated the approval process.
Significance for Cyprus's energy sector
The project is estimated to cost €22 million in total, and construction will take about ten months once all the necessary documents have been obtained. Implementing the project will be an important step towards modernising Cyprus's energy sector, ensuring flexibility in managing network loads and supporting the transition to cleaner, more sustainable energy sources.
Experts note that the launch of the energy storage facility in Psevdas coincides with the pan-European trend of actively introducing the energy storage systems necessary for integrating renewable sources. This is particularly relevant for solar and wind power plants, which continue to grow in popularity in Cyprus.