For the past two years, the KIOS Research and Innovation Center of Excellence (CoE) has been cultivating close collaborations with a number of organizations and authorities that are responsible for the management of critical infrastructure systems. Through these collaborations, KIOS CoE aims to provide research and innovation services that are based on Information Communication Technologies (ICT) with the aim of providing solutions to various challenges faced by the CIS industry in matters related to the monitoring, control, management and security of Critical Infrastructures.
To this end, the KIOS CoE has created a successful partnership with the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC), through the KIOS Innovation Hub, which drives the KIOS CoE innovation and entrepreneurship activities. The objective of this collaboration is the development of novel technologies related to the optimization of the EAC generation, transmission, and distribution systems.
In October 2018, the two parties presented the outcomes of the first year of their research collaboration, at an event held at EAC premises. The presentation of outcomes concerned the following topics:
1. The monitoring of the low-voltage distribution grid in real time, aiming at improving the integration of photovoltaics and optimizing the operation of the electricity grid.
2. The development of a vision-based aerial monitoring platform (drone) for the inspection of power distribution lines (Medium Voltage – MV) and the detection of obstacles (e.g., tree branches) and insulation faults.
3. The characterization and classification of consumer loads in order to define profile classes based on the annual energy consumption of consumers in Cyprus.
4. The identification and calculation of erroneous transmission line parameters.
During the presentation, Mr. Michalis Komodromos, Member of the Board of Directors of EAC, stated that through this research collaboration, the EAC has the ability to exploit state-of-the-art knowledge and expertise to achieve many of its strategic goals, such as the overall optimization of its operations, the reduction of cost, the minimization of risk, and an overall better customer experience.
The Director of the KIOS Research Center of Excellence, Professor Marios Polycarpou, commented that the successful collaboration between KIOS and the EAC contributes to the creation of a research and innovation ecosystem in the area of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) with emphasis on the Monitoring, Control, Management, and Security of Critical Infrastructures in Cyprus. This ecosystem, he added, will link universities, technology companies, and government agencies to create a collaborative network that will bring new employment opportunities for young people, as well as new ideas for economic growth in Cyprus.
