OptiStore Project Successfully Concludes
Nicosia, Cyprus – February 2026 – Petrolina Electric and The Cyprus Institute proudly announce the successful completion of OptiStore, a Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF)-funded project that has developed advanced energy management solutions for optimizing energy storage systems and enhancing renewable energy integration in Cyprus.
The Market Need: Smart Tools for a Dynamic Energy Market
Since Cyprus's competitive electricity market launched in October 2025, energy prices fluctuate dramatically throughout the day—from as low as €0.00/kWh during sunny hours to over €0.25/kWh during evening peaks. With high solar PV curtailments, sophisticated energy management systems have become essential for consumers, businesses, and producers to optimize costs and support grid flexibility.
Real Infrastructure Demonstrations
The Cyprus Institute's PROTEAS Facility received major upgrades including a Hybrid PV-Battery System (30kW-60kWh), a Battery Stand Alone C&I System (50kW-100kWh), a V2G-ready bidirectional EV charger, and an advanced control system integrating solar PV, wind generation, battery storage, and thermal energy systems. These installations enabled real-world testing of optimization strategies under actual Cyprus market conditions.
New Petrolina Energy Management System
OptiStore delivered a sophisticated Energy Management System for Petrolina Electric, capable of monitoring and controlling diverse technologies—solar PV, wind turbines, batteries, thermal storage, and V2G electric vehicles—while responding to real-time market prices.
Free Online Tool for All Cyprus Consumers
OptiStore's most accessible achievement is a free online simulation now available through Petrolina Electric's website, enabling any Cypriot consumer to understand how PV systems and batteries reshape grid consumption. Users can adjust a template profile to meet their consumption profile, as well as some technical and financial inputs. The tool also simulates the financial impact of investing in solar-plus-storage systems and provides optimized battery sizing. (https://www.petrolinaelectric.com.cy/en/home)
Looking Forward
"OptiStore addresses a fundamental need in Cyprus's energy transition," noted Demetris Alambritis, Project Coordinator at Petrolina Electric, during the final project dissemination presenation. "We've developed practical tools that work in real market conditions. The free consumer tool embodies our commitment to helping every consumer participate in the clean energy future while reducing electricity costs. Petrolina Electric’s customers can also find an enhanced tool on their customer portal, encompassing consumption data for better analysis and results."
The project ENTERPRISES/ENERGY/1123/0054 is implemented within the framework of the Cyprus Recovery and Resilience Plan “Cyprus_Tomorrow” ("Κύπρος__το αύριο"), with finding from the European Union – Next Generation EU, through the Research and Innovation Foundation.
