Households protest against solar power shutdowns
Households protest against solar power shutdowns
Households with solar panels continue to be affected by power shutdowns on a daily basis – the reason being a surplus of solar energy. In protest against these shutdowns, a rally was organized for Wednesday at 6 p.m. in front of the presidential palace.
The protest is supported by independent MP Irene Charalambides, who said on social media that the problem was both unjust and urgent. She urged people to participate – it was time to defend themselves against this "deception".
The spokeswoman for the transmission system operator (TSO), Chara Koushiappa, warned homeowners not to leave their systems unattended. Automatic shutdowns could lead to them remaining permanently disconnected from the grid. If the system does not turn itself back on, those affected should contact their installer.
According to Koushiappa, the problem arises from lower electricity consumption in the cooler months. While conventional power plants run at minimum operation and large solar farms reduce their production, surplus energy remains in the grid. Therefore, small commercial and private solar systems must be taken off the grid. This phenomenon will continue for a few more months – until temperatures rise and demand grows again.
Last Thursday, electricity demand was 585 megawatts at noon. Of this, conventional power plants generated 225 MW, wind farms 23 MW and solar plants an estimated 337 MW. At 2 p.m., demand fell to 544 MW, conventional power plants then produced 235 MW, wind farms 10 MW and solar plants about 299 MW.
In order to stabilize the grid, the TSO follows a certain shutdown principle: First, the output of conventional power plants is reduced to a minimum. Then large solar farms will be asked to shut down. This is followed by small commercial and residential solar systems, which are divided into categories by remote control and switched off in stages.
Cyprus' total installed power generation capacity is:
– 1,478 MW from conventional power plants
– 155.1 MW from wind power
– 823.64 MW from solar –
12.4 MW from biomass
As solar plant shutdowns are expected to continue, homeowners should check their installations daily. If the system does not restart automatically, it is recommended to seek professional help. A long-term solution has not yet been announced by the authorities. While rising demand in the summer could naturally alleviate the problem, protesters are demanding immediate action to protect solar system owners from financial loss and unfair treatment.
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