Enigin Update - Cyprus look to increase Energy Efficiency and Renewables
THE CYPRIOT Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Antonis Paschalides highlighted yesterday how important renewable energy and energy efficiency is to the Mediterranean island state.
According to the Minister, who was addressing the Conference on Renewable Energy Sources & Energy Efficiency in Nicosia, renewable energy is the only indigenous energy source available to Cyprus, making it vital for the country to increase renewable energy generation. Renewable energy will also contribute considerably to cutting their dependence on imported energy.
Paschalides said that renewable energy last year contributed 5.2 percent of the country’s energy, compared to 2.5 percent in 2005. However, the minister warned, “There is still a long way to go. In order to promote the use of renewable sources, the government has already adopted a new Action Plan and a new Support Scheme, based on the experience gained during the first 6 years of operation of the first Action Plan and Support Scheme.”
The minister also recognised that energy efficiency is also vital, in not only allowing renewable energy to have a greater impact on its share of energy supply across the island, but the ongoing benefit of the country.
Paschalides said the Cypriot government has already proved it was willing to support projects by giving more than €15 million last year for eligible investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy sources, with the budget for 2011 estimated to exceed €25.5 million.
Directly referring to energy efficiency, the minister added that his Ministry has drafted and implemented legislation regulating the energy performance of buildings, by setting minimum requirements for energy efficiency for each type of building and by creating a building energy efficiency certification system.
The Ministry recently prepared the Second National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, which is to be submitted to the European Commission next month. The Plan includes a exhaustive evaluation of the first Action Plan, with the latest version setting a national reduction target of 463.000 ton of oil equivalent or 14.4 percent of energy savings by 2020.
Paschalides concluded by commenting that the continuation of investment support schemes in energy savings, along with the adoption of new or reviewed energy efficiency directives, will have a significant contribution towards reaching the target.
Enigin Distributors can aid private and public sector organisations to make the best and most effective use of energy, renewable and otherwise, by providing energy efficiency solutions from Enigin. Whether monitoring and displaying renewable energy sources by utilising Eniscope Renewable Energy Hub or managing regular energy use through Eniscope Real-time and Analytics system.
Picutre of Nicosia, Cyprus by sk12
