Cyprus Public Transport and Ecotricity join forces on "green" EU-funded project

Cyprus Public Transport (CPT) and Ecotricity are joining forces to make Cyprus’ public transport greener. An agreement was signed at the CPT offices by Christos Konomis, Director of Ecotricity, and Julio Tironi, CEO of CPT, for the two parties to work on the ongoing “Advanced AI-Driven Energy Management System for Photovoltaic-Powered and Battery Integrated Electric Vehicle Charging Stations”(EMS4PVBEV) project.

"This initiative aims to help CPT in transitioning towards a more sustainable future and promoting green energy by developing a next-generation energy demand management solution for renewable-powered and battery-integrated electric vehicle charging stations," a CPT press release stated.

The “EMS4PVBEV” project is a partnership between the PV Technology Laboratory at the University of Cyprus (UCY), Cyprus Public Transport Services and Operations Ltd (CPT), and Ecotricity, Britain’s Greenest Energy company. The project was launched on 1 July 2024, and is set to last for 18 months.

What is the “EMS4PVBEV” project?

EMS4PVBEV focuses on smart electric vehicle (EV) charging stations powered by renewable energy and integrated with battery storage. The generated power is harnessed through the extensive use of solar panels and other renewable energy sources.

The project aims to (a) enhance the competitiveness of Cypriot enterprises in the areas of storage and Energy Management Systems (EMS), (b) foster a collaborative ecosystem among Cypriot businesses in the energy sector, and (c) improve knowledge transfer within the Cypriot storage and EMS ecosystem.

The anticipated outcomes of the project are closely aligned with the island's ambitious objectives outlined in the National Energy and Climate Plan. "This plan aims to increase the proportion of renewable energy sources in overall energy consumption by 2030, with projections indicating that renewables will account for 23% of gross final energy consumption and 14% in the transportation sector," the press release added.

Financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility of the NextGenerationEU instrument through the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation, the project also aligns with the priorities of the European Green Deal for a secure, renewable-based energy supply able to facilitate he decarbonisation of the energy and transport sectors, and promote sustainable mobility.