On September 8th, EnergyIntel, the sole member of the LDES Council from Cyprus and Greece, had the privilege of welcoming Julia Souder, CEO of the Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) Council, to Cyprus for a day that positioned the island on the global energy map. Through a site visit, a stakeholder roundtable, and high-level government meetings, the discussions highlighted both the challenges Cyprus faces and the significant opportunities it holds to lead in long-duration storage innovation.

Elysée Visit – From Sustainability Vision to Storage Reality

The day began at Elysée Irrigation Ltd, a company already investing heavily in sustainability. Elysée s management presented their sustainability strategy and seven-pillar plan, from reducing carbon footprint and investing in renewable energy, to minimizing waste and scaling production sustainably. 

Elysée has installed nearly 2 MW of solar PV, but as Mr. Gerolemos Gerolemou, International Sales Manager, stressed, 30–40% of the output is wasted due to lack of storage. The numbers are stark: industries in Cyprus sell electricity back to the grid at €0.11/kWh but buy at €0.35/kWh. In practice, this means half of their clean energy investment cannot be monetized.

EnergyIntel showcased their innovative long-duration energy storage unit installed at Elysée, a solution designed exactly for this problem. The system stores surplus PV electricity as heat and delivers it back as electricity or thermal energy during peak demand hours. The visit made clear that storage is not a luxury but a survival tool for Cypriot industry competing against regions with much lower energy costs.

Mrs. Julia Souder underlined the point: “This is the strongest case I’ve seen for storage. Cyprus’s industries are paying some of the highest energy prices in Europe, yet wasting half their solar. Long-duration storage changes that equation entirely.”

Stakeholder Roundtable – A Candid Dialogue on Cyprus’s Energy Future

From Elysée, the delegation moved to a stakeholder brainstorming meeting, bringing together policymakers, regulators and business leaders. The session highlighted several urgent insights:

• Grid constraints are stalling renewables: Cyprus has abundant sunshine, but limited grid flexibility forces curtailment and slows down PV investments.
• Storage is the missing link: Without long-duration storage, industries cannot reduce costs, and the national grid cannot absorb more renewable energy.
• Policy gaps are evident: While subsidies exist for storage, they are insufficient compared to the real costs. 
• Competitiveness is at stake: Cypriot manufacturers pay up to 25–35 cents/kWh, compared to 8 cents/kWh in competitor countries. Without storage, local industry risks being priced out.
• LDES is a global market opportunity: Julia Souder shared LDES Council data showing a €2.5 trillion global market by 2040, with thermal storage expected to capture 60% of it. Cyprus could be a regional testbed for these technologies.

The roundtable was less about polished speeches and more about practical barriers and solutions, making it one of the most candid and productive dialogues on energy Cyprus has hosted. 

Why This Visit Matters

This was more than a company milestone. It was a national conversation starter. The visit showed that:

• Cyprus’s challenges are global challenges: wasted solar, high energy costs, and grid inflexibility exist worldwide. Solutions developed here can scale internationally.
• Industry, government, and innovators are aligned: The fact that policymakers, regulators, and the Presidency engaged on the same day proves a shared urgency.
• EnergyIntel is bridging the gap: By bringing global leaders like Julia Souder to Cyprus and showcasing real-world deployments like Elysée, EnergyIntel is ensuring that Cyprus is not just a consumer of clean energy tech, but a producer and exporter of solutions.

Looking Ahead

Energy storage is no longer optional for Cyprus. It is the backbone of energy independence, competitiveness, and sustainability. The conversations sparked during Julia Souder’s visit mark the beginning of a larger journey, one where Cyprus can prove that even small nations can lead in global energy innovation.

At EnergyIntel, we are committed to making that vision a reality.