Cyprus has the potential to generate 40% of its energy from solar power by 2030, stated Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), in a conversation with the Cyprus News Agency. He emphasized the importance of cross-border energy grid interconnectivity, especially in the Mediterranean, both to meet demand and to stabilize the energy system.

La Camera noted that beyond solar energy, Cyprus could explore offshore wind and enhance energy ties with other Mediterranean nations. He lauded Cyprus’s participation in the Mediterranean Initiative MED9, aiming to make the Mediterranean a beacon for green energy. IRENA has actively collaborated with Cyprus in this endeavor.

The IRENA head underscored the need to bolster grid infrastructure and enact policies encouraging renewables within the European Union context. “Energy storage is a vital tool to ensure interconnectivity and flexibility within the grid,” he remarked, citing the Euro-Asia Interconnector project, linking Israel, Cyprus, and Greece, as an example to improve cross-border energy exchange.

On the topic of renewables mitigating energy price volatility, La Camera pointed to the recent upsurge in energy prices as a signal of the dwindling era of fossil fuel dependence. He championed renewables as the most cost-efficient electricity generation method globally, advocating for a shift from centralised fossil fuel systems to decentralised renewable energy ones.

Detailing IRENA's mission, La Camera mentioned the agency’s pivotal role in fostering consensus on global renewable targets, like at the forthcoming COP28 in Dubai. IRENA has actively facilitated funding for green projects worldwide through partnerships with various stakeholders.

Addressing challenges in the renewable transition, La Camera cited needs such as modern grid infrastructure, supportive policies, institutional capacity, and a skilled workforce. Europe, he remarked, needs a more integrated grid system. He emphasized a multifaceted approach using different renewable technologies and energy storage combined with enhanced interconnectivity to craft a robust and sustainable energy future.