New publication - Natural gas in Cyprus: The need for consolidated planning

A new paper  has been published with a focus on the introduction of natural gas in Cyprus using OSeMOSYS. Available offshore gas reserves and the possibility of natural gas imports have shown that the substitution of oil with gas can reasonably be expected in the not-so-distant future. However, the framework under which change could occur has not yet been established. Should imports of gas serve as a short-term bridge until domestic gas becomes available? What are the infrastructure implications associated with such a medium-term solution? How does a policy-driven transition to gas affect energy security and how compatible is this with a liberalized electricity market? Can short- and longer term strategies be consistently designed and implemented? A cost-optimization model based on OSeMOSYS, representing in detail the electricity supply system of the island, is used to provide insights to these questions. The model has been taken up by authorities in Cyprus and will provide support in policy-making in the future, making Cyprus the first EU member state to adopt an open-source model to guide its energy policy.