Sea rich Cyprus looks at using wave energy

THE PROSPECTS for exploiting renewable energy within Cyprus' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and the eastern Mediterranean were discussed yesterday during a workshop on wave energy potential.

The E-Wave project is a major research project on exploitation of wave energy in Cyprus, which started in January 2011. The project duration is 24 months and is co-ordinated by the Oceanographic Centre of the University of Cyprus.

Its main objective is the creation of a complete, high resolution digital atlas containing detailed maps for the coastal and offshore areas of the EEZ of Cyprus in which sea wave and wind climatological characteristics as well as the distribution of the wave energy potential will be monitored. It also aims to create mathematical models for the prediction and quantification of wave energy in short and long-term forecasts.

Speaking at the workshop, Minister of Agriculture Sofoclis Aletraris stressed the importance of using new forms of Renewable Energy Sources (RES).

“Given the urgent needs for monitoring and exploiting renewable energy sources, the wave energy potential for an island state such as Cyprus with an extended EEZ, we hope to open new promising avenues, following the recent successful discovery of hydrocarbons in the EEZ of Cyprus,” Aletraris said.

Noting that this goal has the full support of the government, he pointed out that Cyprus, due to its geographical position is ready and able to assume a key role in enhanced co-ordination between Mediterranean countries for sustainable utilisation of the marine resources.

“The successful co-operation between Cyprus and Israel on hydrocarbon exploration is one such example,” Aletraris added.

He said also that there is a need to consolidate oceanographic data collection, which will support the monitoring and forecast of the marine environmental conditions and will assist the increase of safety in marine operations, during hydrocarbon exploration. 

Aletraris said he was confident that the added value of the E-Wave project results, which is funded by the Research Promotion Foundation and the Structural funds of the EU, can help Cyprus’ efforts to meet its obligations within the EU for increased use of renewable energy “by exploiting a component that is handsomely given by nature: the sea waves”.

The workshop on "Wave Energy Potential in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: Quantification and Exploitation" was organised by the Oceanographic Center of the University of Cyprus in collaboration with the Atmospheric Modeling and Weather Forecasting Group, Departments of Physics, University of Athens, Greece; Naval Ocean Analysis and Prediction Laboratory – USA Naval Postgraduate School; Cyprus Energy Agency; and the Meteorological Service of Cyprus.