The Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Trade, Industry and Tourism meets UCY Engineering Scientists

Lively, productive, and promising was the discussion held on Friday, January 31, between members of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Commerce, Industry, and Tourism and the scientific community of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Cyprus, in the packed Senate Hall on the University Campus.

In her welcome address, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Marina Neophytou, emphasized that this initiative aims to promote open dialogue between the scientific community and state institutions on important governmental decisions—especially regarding the green transition and the energy future of citizens—issues with a significant impact on social welfare and justice. She further noted that this initiative coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Faculty’s founding, a milestone during which, despite its relatively short existence, the School has managed—according to international rankings—to stand alongside historic technical universities with centuries of experience.

The Rector of the University of Cyprus, Professor Tasos Christofides, also delivered a brief greeting, thanking the Committee members for their presence and expressing hope that dialogue and consultation between the University and political officials will continue.

Startups

During the discussion, faculty and researchers from the Faculty of Engineering highlighted how current legislation hinders the development of startups and the utilization of research results. Professor Ioulios Georgiou from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering stressed that Cyprus still lacks the ecosystem necessary to transfer knowledge for the benefit of Cypriot society and that the inability to incubate companies from university research has serious consequences. Assistant Professor Matthaios Pantelides, from the same department, emphasized the need for legislative changes to help academic and research staff at public universities integrate more actively into Cyprus’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

In response, Committee Chair Kyriakos Hadjiyiannis pledged that the Committee would initiate discussion and examine the issue of startups (spinoffs) as soon as possible. MP Chryssis Pantelides (DIKO) stated that while Parliament cannot amend regulations, it can pressure the executive branch to do so. Notably, Mr. Vakis Charalambous, Parliamentary Associate and Head of Energy Policy for AKEL, commented that potential remains untapped while gross spending on research and innovation remains close to 0.5% of GDP.

Green and Energy Transition & Energy Storage

Speakers also addressed weaknesses in the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP), such as the failure to meet emission reduction targets, noting that Cyprus currently pays over €400 million annually for emissions rights. Doctoral student Orestis Matsas pointed out that the updated NECP has yet to be submitted to the EU, resulting in infringement proceedings initiated by the European Commission against the Republic of Cyprus. He criticized the 10-year planning framework for relying solely on the arrival of natural gas—a fossil fuel—which contradicts the broader goal of climate neutrality and rapid emission reduction by 2050.

Mr. Pantelides also pointed out Cyprus’s shortcomings in energy storage systems and hydrogen technology—areas in which other European countries have already made progress and where costs have recently decreased. He expressed the University of Cyprus’s readiness to contribute to the energy transition with its expertise, including forming an advisory group for the government, Parliament, or the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC). He also advocated for the funding of household battery storage systems to mitigate ongoing power grid disruptions.

Social Acceptance and Participation

Professor Sokratis Stratís from the Department of Architecture emphasized the need to use public space for awareness and education regarding the challenges of the green transition. He proposed that architecture and urban planning should shape both the conditions for public dialogue and the tools to involve Cypriot civil society in discussing implementation scenarios for the green transition, with a focus on spatial and environmental justice.

Associate Professor Loukas Dimitriou, from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, raised the issue of transport emissions, noting that Cyprus has failed to take necessary actions, resulting in the loss of hundreds of millions in funding.

Electricity Interconnection and Energy Security

Regarding Cyprus’s electrical interconnection with the broader region, Professor Panos Papanastasiou from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering argued that, from economic, geopolitical, and technical perspectives, the project is not justified. He cited a European Investment Bank report from July 2023, which stated that the project could result in a €2.3 billion loss, and criticized the misinformation shared with the public, often through paid media. The project was acquired in October 2023 by Greece’s Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) for €47 million. Today, during negotiations, Cypriots are being asked to bear the burden of an unsustainable investment.

To ensure a guaranteed return on the investment—8.3% of the project’s cost, which could exceed €2 billion—the only viable option, according to Papanastasiou, would be to raise electricity prices. On the geopolitical side, he noted that there are already obstacles from Turkey. Financially, the impact on Cypriot consumers will be severe, particularly because the opportunity to create energy storage with EU subsidies, through battery systems, has been missed—resulting in the loss of renewable energy production.

Conclusion

The discussion, which followed interventions from academic community members and the Parliamentary Committee, was moderated by the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Marina Neophytou. In her closing remarks, she emphasized that the dialogue between the Parliamentary Committee and the Faculty’s scientific community does not end here. A series of follow-up actions is already being planned, including the submission of a related memorandum to the House of Representatives. Through such initiatives, the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Cyprus seeks to enhance transparency, promote accountability, and contribute to shaping a more open and participatory decision-making framework.