IRENA-Cyprus Event on Renewable Energy Applications for Island Tourism
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Government of the Republic of Cyprus co-organised a two-day event on 29-30 May focusing on renewable energy applications in the island tourism sector. Held at the Aphrodite Hills Resort in Paphos, Cyprus, the event brought together key players in tourism, island policy makers, technology experts and private sector companies with direct experience of deploying renewable energy technologies for island tourism.
Island tourism presents a major opportunity for the commercial development of renewable energy. Currently, most island tourism facilities depend on diesel-based power generation that can cost over USD 0.35 per kilowatt-hour to provide air conditioning, hot water and other services. Such high energy costs undermine competitiveness and weaken island economies, which often generate a large share of gross domestic product from tourism. Renewable energy technologies, however, offer lower-cost options for air conditioning, hot water and electricity generation, which can substantially reduce the energy bills of island tourism facilities.
The IRENA-Cyprus event facilitated discussion on the main barriers to deployment of renewable energy or island tourism, along with best practices to overcome these challenges.
Session 1: The business case for renewable energy in island tourism
Renewable energy for water desalination
Costas Papanicolas, CREF and Cyprus Institute, Cyprus
Electric vehicles for island tourism
Edison Yin, BYD Europe B.V., Netherlands
Electric vehicles for the integration of renewable energy in transport - technology and case studies from Hawaii
Alex Schroeder, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA
Algae for biofuels for road transportation
Alexandros Charalambrides, Cyprus University of Technology, Cyprus
Biofuels for air transportation
Alejandro Rios Galvan, Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium, UAE
Renewable energy in Italian touristic islands
Mario Gamberale, Exalto and AzzeroCO2, Italy
Session 2: Solar water heating systems for island hotels
Technology and cost overview
Jeffrey Skeer, IRENA
Quality infrastructure in Cyprus
George Roditis, Cyprus Solar Water Heaters Laboratory, Cyprus
Case studies from Cyprus
Tassos Frantzis, ΕΒΗΕΚ, Cyprus Union of Solar Energy Industrialists, Cyprus
Session 3: Renewable energy for air conditioning in island hotels
Solar Air Conditioning: technology, cost and case studies from Greece
Panagiotis Tsekouras, CRES, Greece
Solar Air Conditioning: case studies from Cyprus
George Florides, University of Cyprus, Cyprus
Sea Water Air Conditioning: technology, cost and case study
Makai Ocean Engineering, Hawaii, USA
Ground source heat pumps for hotels: technology, cost and case study
Chrysis Chrysanthou, Ayii Anargyiri, Cyprus
Session 4: The business case for solar photovoltaic systems in island hotels
Technology overview
George Karagiorgis, Frederick University, Cyprus
Cost overview
Peter Journeay-Kaler, IRENA
Large PV hybrid off-grid for a resort, case study from Fiji
Bruce Clay, Clay Energy, Fiji
Large PV hybrid off-grid for a resort, case study from Maldives
Alessandro Venanzini, Nidec ASI, Italy
Session 5: Development partners’ experiences
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
Alexander Haack, GIZ Energy
Inter-American Development Bank
Adriana Valencia, IDB
United Nations World Tourism Organisation
Sofía Gutiérrez, Deputy Director, Sustainable Development of Tourism, UNWTO
Session 6: Roadmap for renewable energy in island tourism
Presentation of IRENA findings on renewable energy solutions for island tourism
Dolf Gielen, IRENA
Financing renewable energy projects in Cyprus
Nicos S. Kyriakides, Deloitte Limited, Cyprus
Session 7: Concluding roundtable on overcoming barriers to the deployment of renewable energy technologies in islands tourism
Accelerating the deployment of renewable energy technologies in island tourism
Ilisoni Vuidreketi, South Pacific Tourism Organisation