Capturing Cyprus Through The Lens: An Executive Review Of Visual Storytelling

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

December 12, 2025

The photo contest “Memories Made in Cyprus” brought the island’s unique heritage to life during the annual tourism conference hosted by STEK. Held on 27 November 2025, the event showcased a collection of evocative images that powerfully narrated the cultural and natural allure of Cyprus, with distinguished guests including the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr. Kostas Koumis, and leading figures from the tourism industry.

Awarded Photographic Excellence

The top honor was awarded to Maria Maragkou for her piece, “Ekklisaki tis Panagias tis Thalassinis”, which captures the serene and heartfelt spirit of Paphos. The second prize was jointly claimed by Stelios Michailidis for his poetic portrayal in “I Siopis tou Iliovasilematos” and Rafae̱llos Markitanis for his technically refined landscape in “Fragma Prodromou”. The third prize went to Andriani Georgiou for “Chryso Fthinopocho”, an image that elegantly encapsulates the splendor of the Cypriot countryside during autumn.

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Recognized Outstanding Works

In addition to the main prizes, seven other images received accolades for their artistic innovation and narrative depth. These featured subjects ranged from medieval stone bridges and rugged mountain trails to handcrafted art and the wintry vistas of Troodos. Notable recognitions include:

Ilias Labrou – “To Mesaiotiko Petríno Gefyri tis Miliás”
Savas Maroullétis – “Istioforo Plio, Plaisio̱menos apo Parathyro”
Andriani Georgiou – “Chionismeno Troodos”
Pavlos Pavlou – “To Gefyri tou Jelefontou”
Kostas Efthivoulou – “Laneia”
Maria Maragkou – “Hand Made”
Marios Andreou – “Fading Light, Fading Thoughts”

Rigorous Judging Process

The selection process was overseen by a highly qualified panel including Savvas Perdios, Theodosia Antoniou, Dr. Alexis Saveriadis, Andreas Konstantinou, Socrates Sokráto̱s, Silvio Rousmiko, and Chrysaimili Psilogéni. Their evaluation criteria emphasized a sophisticated blend of aesthetic appeal, technical excellence, and narrative power.

Cyprus: A Tapestry of Captured Memories

STEK expressed its gratitude to all participants, underscoring that the contest celebrates the authentic, heartfelt nature of Cyprus through vivid imagery. The event transformed Cyprus into a visual journey where nature, history, and everyday moments intersect to create enduring memories. This fusion of art and cultural storytelling stands as a testament to the island’s profound appeal in the global tourism landscape.

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Cyprus Moves To Unlock More Solar Power With First Large-Scale Battery Storage Contracts

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 23, 2026

Cyprus is preparing to sign the first contracts for large-scale electricity storage batteries on Tuesday, a project expected to improve the grid’s ability to manage growing renewable energy production and reduce the curtailment of solar power.

A Long-Awaited Grid Fix

Energy Minister Michalis Damianos said the agreements will cover 120MW of centralised storage capacity that will be managed by the transmission system operator. The project, valued at €50 million, is expected to deliver the batteries in January 2027, with installation scheduled to take place over the following two to three months.

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According to Damianos, the system should become operational by the summer of 2027, a period when both electricity demand and solar generation typically peak. He said the storage facilities will allow energy currently lost due to a lack of storage capacity to be retained and used when needed.

Why Storage Has Become Essential

The batteries are designed to absorb excess renewable electricity during periods of overproduction and release it back into the system when demand increases. Their introduction is expected to reduce the curtailments currently affecting solar generators and improve the use of renewable energy already being produced across the island.

Former Energy Minister George Papanastasiou told Sigma that planning for the project began in 2023 in cooperation with the European Commission. The objective was to address growing losses from renewable energy generation that the electricity network cannot currently absorb.

By the end of May 2026, approximately 160,000 megawatt hours of renewable energy had been lost through curtailments affecting residential photovoltaic systems, commercial solar parks, and wind installations. According to Papanastasiou, renewable electricity production exceeds demand during several hours of the day, leaving part of the output unable to be utilised.

The Cost Of Growing Faster Than The Grid

The challenge has become more pronounced as renewable generation capacity has expanded faster than the infrastructure required to manage surplus electricity. Data from the distribution system operator show that around 306 gigawatt hours of renewable energy were curtailed in 2025, compared with approximately 167 gigawatt hours a year earlier.

Papanastasiou acknowledged criticism that storage deployment has not kept pace with the growth of renewable energy projects, although he noted that regulatory and financing challenges slowed implementation. He added that the development of storage and generation capacity needs to progress in parallel, a challenge faced by many energy markets.

Private Capital Is Also Entering The Market

The state-backed battery installation forms part of a broader expansion of energy storage capacity across Cyprus. Alongside the project managed by the transmission system operator, the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) and private developers are advancing their own investments.

Current figures show 36 applications for battery storage projects with a combined requested capacity of approximately 925MW. The EAC has submitted applications for storage facilities in Dhekelia and Moni with a combined capacity of 180MW, while private-sector projects exceeding 150MW have progressed through various stages of the approval process.

Grid Stability Comes First

According to Papanastasiou, the state-owned battery system will primarily serve grid stability and energy security objectives rather than operate as a commercial trading asset. The facilities will store electricity during periods of surplus generation and release it when demand rises or when supply pressures emerge.

Privately operated storage projects could also contribute to the market by storing lower-cost renewable electricity and dispatching it later when demand and prices are higher.

As renewable energy continues to account for a larger share of Cyprus’ electricity mix, storage infrastructure is expected to play an increasingly important role in balancing supply and demand, reducing curtailments, and improving the overall efficiency of the power system.

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