On Friday, April 8, 2022, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Energy Resources of the United States of America, Ms. Laura Lochman, along with the Senior Energy Analyst in the Middle East and North Africa Team Lead of the Bureau of Energy Resources at US Department of State, Ms. Chrissy Bishai JD, MPA, and the Political/Economic Officer of US Embassy in Cyprus, Mr. William Stange, visited The Cyprus Institute’s (CyI) Platform for Research, Observation and Technological Applications in Solar Energy (PROTEAS) Facility in Pentakomo, Limassol.
Inaugurated in October 2015, PROTEAS Facility is the largest research infrastructure in Cyprus. Its mission is to pursue research, development of solar technologies, as well as testing of Renewable Energy Sources with emphasis on Concentrating Solar Thermal (CST), Thermal Energy Storage (TES) and Thermal Desalination of Sea Water (DSW) for bridging the gap between fundamental research and industrial needs.
Hosting the meeting was CyI President, and Advisor and Presidential Envoy on Climate Change, Prof. Costas N. Papanicolas, in the presence of CyI Head of PROTEAS Operations Facility, Dr Marios C. Georgiou, CyI Associate Research Scientist in Energy Policy, Dr Nestor Fylaktos, and Dr Christiana Katti, Scientific Coordinator of the Cyprus Climate Change Initiative in the EMME region (EMME-CCI).
The delegation was given a briefing on the Institute’s research and especially energy activities, a general presentation about PROTEAS Facility by Dr Marios C. Georgiou and Dr Fylaktos, as well as Dr Katti presented the Cyprus Climate Change Initiative, followed by welcome words from CyI President, and an introductory statement by the visitors. The discussion centred around the energy technologies and solutions for tackling climate change, as well as regarding the pillars for a clean energy transition. Followed by the brief meeting, the delegation was given a guided tour of PROTEAS Facility, led by Prof. Papanicolas and Dr Georgiou.
Finally, the delegation expressed their thanks for the opportunity to visit, and congratulated the administration and the scientists of the Institute for their exceptional work and research achievements, as well as for the modern and unique facilities in Pentakomo.
