The development of Cyprus’ first pilot infrastructure for wireless charging of electric buses, powered by locally produced solar energy and supported by a storage system, is planned under the research project titled “Digital Twin for Wireless Charging Infrastructure of Smart Urban Public Buses” (acronym: WISE).

“This infrastructure will be developed in Nicosia, which aspires to become the first fully integrated smart city in the country. Integrating this system into the city’s ecosystem aligns with Nicosia’s vision of becoming a smart and sustainable city while offering significant environmental, economic, and social benefits,” the Cyprus Public Transport announced.

The project is a strategic collaboration between the Photovoltaic Technology Laboratory of the University of Cyprus, Cyprus Public Transport, Nicosia Public Transport, SVMENERGY NET LTD, and the Municipality of Strovolos.

The kick-off meeting for the project took place on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, marking the official start of an initiative that aims to introduce new, sustainable, and efficient public transport services based on smart city technology.

Coordinated by the University of Cyprus, the project has secured a total funding of €599,992.8, of which €248,100 was allocated to the university. The funding was granted under the “Collaborative Development” Call for Proposals of the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF).

According to the announcement, the project’s outcomes are expected to play a decisive role in achieving Cyprus’ ambitious goals set out in the National Energy and Climate Plan, supporting the country’s transition to net-zero emissions.

The WISE project officially began on 1 September 2025 and will run for 24 months.

The project is co-funded by the Republic of Cyprus and the European Union’s Cohesion Policy Programme “THALIA 2021–2027”, through the Research and Innovation Foundation of Cyprus.