Sustainable energy planning for the aspiration to transition from fossil energy to renewable energy in Northern Cyprus

The study aims to reveal the prominent strategic energy alternatives for Northern Cyprus (NC) in its aspiration to transition from fossil fuels to solar energy/clean energy/renewable energy with sustainable energy planning. First, SWOT analysis was used to identify strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats; then, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method was used to determine the weight ratios of all those factors and finally, these results were used together with the TOWS analysis to derive energy alternatives. There results in brief were as follows; “solar energy potential” (S1) and "geostrategic position in energy transmission” (S2), both being sub-factors representing strengths, took the first two places respectively in the derived order of importance. The most important sub-criteria of the weaknesses was “insufficient energy management” (W5), while “interconnected connection in energy transmission” (O3) and “energy supply security” (T1) were determined as important for opportunities and threats”. Experts identified eight energy strategies; in particular, the “establishing the interconnected connection” (WO2) and “natural gas pipeline laying” (SO1) strategies are expected to affect all regional energy stakeholders. This study has the potential to become a foremost source in providing energy strategies to energy planners and academics during the energy transition period, specifically for NC.