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Nicosia |
The WP-CYPRUS project is a pilot action intended to
implement the Community’s keypolicies for RES and RUE integration, in
the Republic of Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus is one of the accession
countries, and its forthcoming entrance in EU will entrain the need to
comply with the union’s energy policies and environmental commitments.
In addition, Cyprus presents a particular interest because its energy
system is both vulnerable and non-sustainable as shown by the following
characteristics:
Typical insular system almost completely dependent on
imported energy (over 97%)
and with no prospects to be interconnected with EU’s energy networks
in the near future.
Sound and fast developing economy, founded to a large
extent on the sector of services and with an important contribution of
tourism-related activities.
Severe water scarcity problems, which may require
additional energy in order to be
effectively solved.
High increase rates of energy consumption with
transport and buildings being the largest energy consuming sectors.
Autonomous electricity grid supplied exclusively with
oil and thus threatened by instability.
Significant RES potential capable of meeting an
important share of energy supply, especially if combined with
investments on RUE technologies. Although unique in their combination,
the above described characteristics are very often encountered in other
Mediterranean regions and EU islands. Thus, Cyprus is given the
opportunity to play an intermediate link in the “learning” process that
is systematically promoted in the field of RES and RUE within EU. This
means that Cyprus could rely on the experience gained in other similar
geographical units, like Crete, Tenerife, and Sardinia and at the same
time serves as an example to further disseminate “good practices” in
other regions and islands within the enlarged EU.
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