Cyprus will relaunch the 'Solar for All' programme.
This was announced by the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry on Thursday 31 October.
It turns out that the initiative, which was first launched in March 2024, has received an unprecedented response. More than 6,000 Cypriot households have expressed their desire to participate in the scheme. At the same time, many of them have already completed the installation of photovoltaic panels on their homes. Now, according to the ministry, a further 3,000 households will be eligible for state subsidies.
The scheme is designed to help low-income families who want to cut their energy bills but lack the initial capital. The idea is that the money will be provided by the Renewable Energy Fund to install panels in their homes. The debt will be collected from applicants in instalments through special contributions included in their electricity bills.
Several changes have been made to make the programme more accessible and efficient:
- The consumption limit of 6,000 kWh/year in the first phase has been removed;
- Reduced the amount of the grant from €1,000 to €500;
- increased the amount to be returned to the fund from 4,000 euros to 4.5,000 euros.
In addition, the authority has broadened the range of beneficiaries who can participate in the state scheme. Applications will now be accepted from persons who have a purchase agreement with the Land Department, even if they are not yet the official owners of the property.
As a reminder, for a household with an average consumption of 1.1 thousand kWh for two months (corresponding to an electricity bill of €370 for two months), the bill will be reduced to €207 after the installation of a 4 kW solar energy system. This amount includes €150 for the repayment of the debt for the installation of the system. After repayment, which is expected to take between 4 and 5 years, the electricity bill will be reduced to €57 for two months.
The ministry encouraged Cypriot citizens to consider applying for the grant, stressing that all detailed information and online applications are available at www.ref.org.cy.