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Unlocking The Value Of Battery Storage: A Strategic Shift For Cyprus’s Renewable Future

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 19, 2026

Cyprus curtailed an estimated 306 gigawatt-hours of solar energy in 2025 due to grid constraints, according to industry estimates. Volume is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of around 51,000 households. At the same time, the electricity sector incurred €250–350 million in EU carbon allowance costs. Battery storage systems offer a way to use surplus renewable energy and reduce these losses.

Understanding The Scale Of Energy Curtailment

Curtailment levels increased sharply in recent years. Rates were negligible four years ago, reached 29% in 2024, and approached 46% in 2025 as rooftop solar capacity expanded. Limited storage capacity and lack of interconnection prevent export of excess electricity, increasing pressure on the grid as new capacity is added. Annual curtailed volume exceeds the electricity consumption of the city of Paphos.

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The Promise Of Battery Storage

Battery storage systems allow excess energy generated during low-demand periods to be stored and used during peak hours. Data from the Cyprus Transmission System Operator’s Day-Ahead Market between October 2025 and February 2026 show a consistent price spread between midday and evening periods. Average prices reached €101 per megawatt-hour during midday hours and €183 during evening peaks, supporting a positive revenue model for storage deployment.

A 5 MW solar park combined with a 20 MWh battery system can generate approximately €294,000 annually by capturing curtailed energy. Payback period for such systems is estimated at six to nine years, followed by continued revenue generation.

Regulatory Progress And Remaining Challenges

Cyprus introduced regulatory changes in January 2026, allowing solar park operators to integrate battery storage systems. The framework was developed by CERA and the DSO under a Category B structure. Current rules limit participation in the electricity market, as storage systems cannot operate independently and must charge only from co-located solar generation.

Scaling Impact And Market Integration

Public investment includes a 120 MW / 400 MWh battery system supported in part by the EU Just Transition Fund. The project supports grid stability but does not address system-wide storage needs. More than 1,000 MW of potential storage capacity is held by 33 private companies, indicating scope for broader deployment if market access expands.

“We are now entering a European BESS cycle. The first wave of solar and wind installations has reached grid limits. Battery storage enables further renewable expansion,” said Dr Arkadius Sybaris.

Economic And Security Imperatives

Cyprus spends €250–350 million annually on EU Emissions Trading allowances, reflecting continued reliance on fossil fuels. Curtailment of renewable energy contributes to higher system costs. Experience from Ireland and the United Kingdom shows battery storage can reduce fossil fuel dependence and improve grid stability.

Grid-forming battery systems have already been ordered by operators in Cyprus, but remain underutilized under current regulations. “We are not talking about future technology. Grid-forming battery systems are already deployed across Europe. Hardware is available, but regulatory approval is required for operation,” said Alexander Papacosta, Managing Director of Lighthief Cyprus & Greece.

The Path Forward

Expanding the value of renewable energy in Cyprus requires regulatory and market adjustments. In other EU markets, storage operators participate in day-ahead trading, provide ancillary services, and support grid stability. Policy changes could include allowing battery systems to operate as market participants, enabling participation in balancing services, and permitting grid-forming systems to provide inertia support. Implementation of these measures would increase system efficiency and reduce curtailment.

About Lighthief Energy Group

Dr Arkadius Sybaris is the founder of Lighthief International, a renewable energy group active in 11 European nations. Lighthief Cyprus manages a portfolio of battery storage projects totaling 249 MW/882 MWh across 51 licensed solar parks on the island. Alexander Papacosta is the Managing Director of Lighthief Cyprus & Greece.

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Cyprus Crypto Users Face New Risks As MiCA Rules Take Effect

by News Editor

August 18, 2026

Why Investors Need To Check The Company Behind Their Crypto Platform

Crypto users in Cyprus are being urged to verify exactly which company holds their assets after the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) transition period ended on July 1, 2026.

MiCA rules for crypto-asset service providers have applied since December 2024, but Cyprus allowed companies operating under its previous national framework to continue temporarily. CySEC required providers wishing to remain in the market to apply by February 27, 2026.

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The end of the transition means that appearing on an old national register is no longer enough. Investors must check the specific legal entity providing the service and the activities it is authorised to perform.

Two Regulatory Routes

CySEC maintains separate registers for providers authorised under Article 63 and companies using the Article 60 notification route.

The lists should not simply be treated as a count of licensed crypto exchanges. Providers have different regulatory statuses and may be authorised for different services, including custody, transfers, exchanges or operating trading platforms.

Companies authorised elsewhere in the EU can also serve Cypriot customers through MiCA passporting. Investors should therefore check the wider ESMA register.

Familiar Brands Can Still Be Used In Scams

MiCA authorisation applies to a specific legal entity, not automatically to every website, subsidiary or service using the same brand. Fraudsters can copy a legitimate company’s name, logo and licence number while changing its website or payment details.

The regulatory transition creates another opportunity for scammers. They can imitate legitimate notices about account closures or transfers and claim that customers must urgently move their assets to a new “regulated” platform.

In its July announcement, CySEC warned that customers using unauthorised providers do not receive MiCA protections and advised investors to verify providers through ESMA.

A Wider European Shake-Up

The changes affect the broader European crypto market. VASPnet estimated that more than 1,700 unlicensed crypto companies could face closure, relocation or restructuring after the transition period.

ESMA’s register contained 323 authorised providers at the end of July, while TRM Labs identified 1,343 operating providers in the European Economic Area on July 1, including 281 with MiCA authorisation. The different figures reflect different methodologies, but point to a substantial number of providers operating without the new authorisation.

ESMA instructed unauthorised companies to stop accepting new EU customers, opening accounts and marketing their services, while allowing limited activity needed for an orderly withdrawal.

What Investors Should Check

MiCA introduces common requirements for areas such as governance, disclosures and safeguarding client assets, but it does not make crypto investments risk-free.

For Cyprus users, the key questions are which legal entity provides the service, what it is authorised to do and whether the website or contact details are genuine.

Requests to transfer assets urgently, pay recovery fees, reveal private keys or install remote-access software should be treated as red flags. MiCA may bring greater clarity to the market, but the transition has also created a new opportunity for criminals to exploit a very real regulatory change.