Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Just reading an article regarding turkish-supplied electricity; I worry whether the TRNC might be coming a little too dependent? I remember history; the imperialistic powers (not just GB; France, Spain, USA, USSR) build and provide everything to new countries (but do not let them make their own) who then have to rely on the powers....
If you'll all pardon the expression - "beware of Greeks bearing gifts....."
...But is the TRNC making itself vulnerable...?

Absolutely - I think that this is a concern for many TC's , but they are hardly likely refuse a 'Gift horse'...

Sadly, if it does not turn out well the TC's won't know what hit them.

This Topic, I think, goes to the very heart of many TCs. It is a "Catch22" situation and only after the lifting of the cruel isolation will pride and hope be restored particularly for the younger generation. Individual T C s, however, are starting to make an impact abroad with their skills and achievements. It's a shame they have to leave their Homeland in the first place.

Unfortunately the rest of the world is pushing the TRNC ever closer to Turkish influence and eventual control. If the embargoes are lifted there is a chance but I don't see it happening any time soon - even though the embargoes are illegal in that the time limit for such UN sponsored restrictions has long since passed.

Seeing as they have more power cuts in Turkey than we do here it will be a lot worse.

Yeah and whilst the rest of the world is moving to ever more use of solar energy, places like Cyprus tailor-made for such an energy generation plant/s seems incapable of grasping the idea... Cue those who don't know how solar energy can serve power needs in conjunction with other forms of generation 24/7 even when it's dark or cloudy.....

I couldn't agree more with Groucho re solar energy. MANY years ago when solar power was a bit of a novelty, we went to Kos (or one of the other small Greek islands) and from the air all we could see was mile after mile of glittering 'something". Of course it was the panels and as I said, it was donkeys years ago. I also knew someone in Norfolk 35 yeas ago who had solar panels and believe me we don't rely on bright sunlight there!!! Why are they so behind the times here?

Cyprus is an island and has its own electricity production. This applies for the TRNC and the RoC. There are “emergency lines” connecting the two electric systems.
Sometimes they do not have sufficient energy available, sometimes they have too much. Management systems like SCADA ease the situation.
The set up of several independent local “mini-grids” (upper lapta, lower lapta) based on renewable energies and to manage the energy flows between them and other mini-grids (alsancak) in a honeycomb structure , are still in its infancy, even in europe.
But even here you can see: you need connections to the next mini-grid: if one local mini-grid has too much power or not enough, it contacts the next mini-grid to “take or give”. If this does not work, “they” contact the “higher level comb management”. Target is an uninterrupted power supply.
See it like this: Cyprus is small and basically it is a big mini-grid, neither the TRNC nor the RoC has a connection to anywhere as we have it in Europe, where everybody is connected with everybody. Eg, the french island Korsica connects with italian Sardinia and both are connected to Italy. Even after Brexit, nobody thinks seriously to cut the lines to Norway or France.

So, yes, more solar energy is needed. Do you have a PV system on your roof, which basically can produce all what you need?
Both TRNC and RoC offer programs for a so called net-metering system, which both stabilizes the network and is the beginning of a decentralized network.
But, in an off-grid system the amount of solar (or wind) systems is limited ( they become inefficient), this applies especially for big solar power plants.
For, eg biogas power plants, or energy storage systems in the MWh range the logistics and money is not available.
And even if we would be better positioned: the transmission line to turkey is good to level up power flows and could be used for similar needs of the RoC as well.
that Cyprus may become one day "lazy" to develope renewables + storage systems and energy management systems, and instead get nuclear power from Turkey.....is another subject.

Sophie, many years ago ... you have seen, the better ones or crap, solar water heaters.