Dorita Yiannakou
BaroMar CEO Yonadav Buber spoke with Kathimerini about the company’s first pilot underwater energy storage project in Cyprus and how the technology could help bring down electricity prices.
Why did you choose Cyprus for BaroMar’s first pilot project?
Cyprus offers an ideal setting for testing the next generation of energy technologies. As an island nation with rapidly growing solar power capacity, it faces many of the same challenges confronting isolated electricity systems around the world.
Three main factors influenced our decision.
The first is Cyprus’ unique seabed geography. Our technology relies on hydrostatic pressure at significant ocean depths to store energy. Because the seabed drops off quickly near the coast, systems can be installed relatively close to shore. That reduces the cost of subsea cables, construction work, and supporting infrastructure.
“Cyprus can become the Mediterranean’s living laboratory for green energy.”
The second factor is the country’s urgent need for energy storage. Cyprus still relies heavily on fuel oil for electricity generation while also facing rising carbon emissions costs. At the same time, a significant amount of solar energy goes unused because the grid cannot absorb all the electricity being produced and storage capacity remains limited.
The third factor is the willingness of local stakeholders to embrace innovative solutions that can strengthen the island’s energy security. Cooperation between public institutions and private companies has created favorable conditions for testing technologies that could eventually be deployed in other isolated markets.
For BaroMar, Cyprus is more than the site of a pilot project. It offers a glimpse of what future energy systems may look like and provides an excellent starting point for demonstrating the value of long-duration underwater energy storage.
Where does the project stand today?
The project is progressing according to schedule. Most of the necessary permits have already been secured, and construction of a new electricity substation has been completed.
The compressor and turbine have also been installed at the PROTEAS research center in Pentakomo. Based on current plans, the system is expected to enter full operation by November.
How important is energy storage to the future of renewable energy, particularly in isolated systems such as Cyprus?
Cyprus operates as a standalone energy system and cannot depend on neighboring countries for immediate support.
Without large-scale, long-duration storage, the electricity grid cannot fully utilize growing solar generation. That creates the risk of grid instability and power interruptions, or it forces operators to curtail renewable production and discard clean electricity that has already been generated.
Our technology functions like a massive energy reservoir. It absorbs excess electricity when production exceeds demand and returns that energy to the grid when it is needed most.
As a result, fluctuations in weather conditions and renewable generation can be transformed into a reliable and predictable source of electricity available around the clock.
In simple terms, long-duration energy storage is what allows renewable energy to become a primary component of tomorrow’s energy system. For Cyprus, it is a critical step toward cleaner, more affordable, and more secure electricity generation.
At the Green Agenda conference, you said energy storage could reduce electricity costs by up to 50 percent. How would that happen?
Our technology reduces costs in three key ways.
First, it prevents renewable energy from going to waste. Excess solar power produced during daylight hours can be stored rather than discarded when the grid reaches its limits.
Second, it reduces dependence on expensive fossil fuel generation. Energy stored during the day can be delivered back to the grid during periods of higher demand, reducing the need for costly conventional power plants.
Third, BaroMar takes a different approach from conventional battery systems. Our technology relies on natural water pressure and durable steel or concrete storage tanks instead of expensive and scarce materials commonly used in lithium-ion batteries.
This approach lowers both construction and maintenance costs while providing a system lifespan of 30 to 40 years. Over time, the combination of lower operating costs, increased renewable energy use, and reduced fossil fuel consumption can create meaningful savings for households and businesses.
When could consumers begin seeing those benefits?
A commercial-scale installation could begin operating about two years after agreements are finalized and investment decisions are made.
Once the first commercial systems are connected to Cyprus’ electricity grid, the country could significantly reduce spending on imported fuel and carbon emissions costs.
Consumers could begin seeing measurable savings on their electricity bills within months of the system becoming operational. As generation costs decline and renewable energy is used more efficiently through storage, lower production costs should gradually be reflected in electricity tariffs.
What is the biggest obstacle preventing energy storage from reducing electricity prices in Cyprus today?
The main challenge is not technological.
Success depends on aligning public policy, regulatory institutions, and investment priorities while creating an environment that encourages innovation and adoption of new solutions.
Traditional electricity systems were built around a straightforward model in which power flows directly from producers to consumers. Energy storage introduces a new dimension by allowing electricity to be stored and used later when demand requires it.
That means market rules and regulatory structures must evolve.
A top priority should be updating the regulatory framework so it not only allows long-duration storage projects to proceed but also creates incentives that support investment in these technologies.
Cyprus has a significant advantage because of its size. New policies can often be developed and implemented more quickly than in larger countries.
One promising tool is the use of regulatory sandboxes, controlled environments where emerging technologies can be tested under real-world conditions with limited regulatory risk.
Through initiatives like these, Cyprus has an opportunity to establish itself as an international center for developing and demonstrating advanced energy technologies.
The key challenge is creating the right framework to encourage investment, support innovation, and help the country transition to a cleaner and more resilient energy system.
What role should the government play?
The government has a critical role in ensuring that the benefits of the energy transition reach consumers.
The most important step is creating a stable regulatory environment with market rules that encourage investment in innovative technologies.
Such a framework attracts international capital, technical expertise, and advanced energy solutions. Increased competition can then help reduce costs.
Through pilot projects, supportive regulations, and targeted innovation programs, Cyprus has the potential to become a regional hub for developing and testing new energy technologies across the Mediterranean.
Over the long term, that strategy could place the country at the forefront of energy innovation.
