The provision of electricity is adequate despite the high demand due to elevated temperatures, the Cyprus Transmission System Operator (TSOC) has told CNA.

Hara Kousiappa, the TSOC Spokesperson told CNA that the maximum electricity demand on Thursday is estimated to reach around 1,150 Mega Watts (MW) around 14:00 to 16:00 local time.

According to Kousiappa, energy generated from photovoltaic systems is expected to reach around 550 MW during peak production time, with energy from wind parks around 5 to 10 MW. During their peak production time, solar panels are expected to amount to 48% of total demand, she added.

The maximum demand in electricity yesterday peaked at 1,104 MW around 15:45 Kousiappa added.

Hit by constant high temperatures which exceeded 40 degrees Celsius, Cyprus saw its electricity demand soar to 1,217 MW on June 14, very close to its historic high demand of 1,243 MW recorded on July 24 last year.

“We have high demand during this period because temperatures have declined slightly and we are in a protracted heat wage,” Kousiappa said.

Available electricity production from the Electricity Authority of Cyprus conventional units amounts to 1,122 MW, a capacity believed adequate as demand in night-time peak hours drops to 950 – 1,000 MW.

“Therefore there is spare capacity while there’s also a small contribution from wind parks amounting to 10 – 30 MW for today”, Kousiappa added, noting that no problems are expected to arise due to high demand on electricity.