According to data published by the newspaper Alithia with reference to the international platform Electricity Maps, the country has taken one of the first places in the world in terms of environmental pollution associated with electricity generation. In fact, Cyprus turned out to be the dirtiest country in terms of its carbon footprint for every kilowatt hour produced.
According to recent measurements, emissions from electricity generation reach almost 850 grams of CO₂ equivalent per kilowatt hour. The situation was particularly alarming in December, when Cyprus found itself in the same group with countries such as Mongolia, Botswana, the eastern regions of India and Poland. The island’s indicators are comparable, and in some periods even worse than those of countries with traditionally high levels of coal and hydrocarbon generation.
The environmental picture clearly demonstrates the main problem — Cyprus’ critical dependence on oil for electricity production. Despite the gradual introduction of alternative sources, the share of natural gas and renewable sources remains insufficient. This makes the energy system vulnerable and extremely inefficient in terms of emissions.
Although official data shows some improvement compared to 2017, the reality remains alarming. Cyprus continues to lag behind not only the European Union countries, but also a number of African states, as well as oil-producing countries that are already actively diversifying their energy balances.
The problem is especially acute in the evening and during cold weather, when demand for electricity increases sharply. At such times, the peak load reaches 736-823 megawatts, whereas a few years ago it exceeded 1,000 megawatts. At the same time, the high dependence on fossil fuels makes each such leap especially “dirty” from an environmental point of view.
The situation looks a little better during the day. During the hours of active sun, the contribution of solar power plants and wind power makes it possible to reduce emissions to a range of about 480-570 grams of co₂ per kilowatt hour. However, this is still not enough to talk about systemic changes.
The Cypriot authorities have already announced their intention to change the current model. Among the key steps are the launch of infrastructure for the use of natural gas, the development of electric interconnectors with neighboring countries and the accelerated introduction of renewable energy sources. These measures should gradually reduce the carbon footprint and reduce dependence on oil.
Nevertheless, the current situation clearly shows that the energy transition for Cyprus is not just an environmental trend, but an urgent need. Without systemic and quick solutions, the country risks remaining one of the world’s leading pollution leaders, despite its status as a developed European state.
A source: omegalive.com.cy
https://cyprusbutterfly.com.cy/news/kipr-okazalsya-spiske-mirovyix-liderov
