GRANT SCHEME FOR THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE USE OF RES AND ENERGY SAVINGS IN DWELLINGS 2022-2023 - CATEGORY 3A

• THE APPLICATION SHALL BE SUBMITTED BY THE PERSON IN WHOSE NAME THE ELECTRICITY BILL OF THE RESIDENCE IS.

• Only one application can be submitted by each beneficiary and/or for each residence and/or for each PV system.

• The dwelling on which the investment was made should be legally used as a residence and the electricity bill of the house should relate to house tariffs. Facilities on premises that are not legally used as residences may not be subsidized.

• The residences should not be rented by a legal entity and should not be used in the context of economic activity for a period of at least five (5) years from the date of submission of the application. It is clarified that houses rented from natural persons to natural persons are eligible.

• This Grant Scheme promotes -in addition- the implementation of actions included in the National Strategy for the Development of Mountain Communities. In this context, installations in houses falling within the mountain areas receive an increased sponsorship of 50%. It should be noted that mountain areas are defined solely on the basis of the postal code . The list of postal codes identifying mountain areas is given here.

• See paragraph 16 of the Grant Scheme (GR) regarding the possibility of implementing the investment through an Energy Service Company (ESCo).

• Value Added Tax (VAT) is not an eligible expense.

• At the date of submission of the application, the Photovoltaic System must be interconnected with the grid and put into full operation.

• The installed power of the Photovoltaic System will be calculated on the basis of the nominal power of the panels indicated in the invoice, which must be in accordance with that stated in the data maintained by the Distribution System Operator.

REGARDING THE RETROACTIVITY OF THE SCHEME:

• The Scheme has retroactive effect to ensure the smooth continuation of the previous Scheme of 2021 (see relevant Announcement 20/10/21). Investments made after 01/08/2021 are therefore eligible. Investments made before 01/08/2021 are not eligible.

  • as the date of investment, is considered the date of issuance of the Certificate of Suitability of the electrical installation of the photovoltaic (PV) system by the Distribution System Operator.
  • It is noted that, regardless of the retrospectiveness of this Grant Scheme, investments made before 20/12/2021, receive the grant amount provided in the respective Grant Scheme of 2021. 

• Indicative average time for completion of applications: 6 months. This information is provided non-binding on the basis of current conditions and provided that the application is submitted in full and no problems/deficiencies will be detected.

Please note that in order to be able to submit an "APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING", you must create an account in the system (in case you do not already have one). When creating an account you will be asked to attach in electronic form (scan), a copy of the identification card as follows:

• For citizens with Cypriot Citizenship: Copy of identity card
• For EU citizens: Certificate of registration of a Union citizen and his or her family members who are also Union citizens
• For third-country nationals: Alien Registration Card (ARC)

When submitting an "APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING" you will be asked to attach the following documents in electronic form (scan):

1. A recent electricity bill of the residence where the photovoltaic system has been installed in the name of the applicant.
2. A statement from your electricity supplier (EAC), indicating the date of first connection of the premises (which should be before 01.01.2017) (the statement is provided by the EAC - it is clarified that this is a different document from the electricity bill).
   Alternatively, applicants can submit official documents proving that the application for a building permit and/or urban planning permit was submitted before 01.01.2017 (e.g. a copy of the Building Permit and/or the Planning Permit and/or applications for their issuance).
3. Detailed Invoices relating to the PV installation, which should be issued in the name of the applicant:
   • see par. 15 of the Grant Scheme (GR) regarding the mandatory content and the requirements that the Invoices must meet
   • see par. 16 of the Grant Scheme (GR) regarding the implementation of investments through an Energy Service Company (ESCo).
4. The Certificate of Suitability of the photovoltaic (PV) system, which must have been issued after 01/08/2021 inclusive.

Additional Supporting Documents in cases where the connection of the PV System was made by the method of VIRTUAL NET-METERING:

1. In cases where the installation of the PV System was done by the method of virtual net-metering, a document specified by the Management Committee of the RES and Energy Conservation Fund must also be submitted, on the basis of which it is proved that the energy produced by the installed PV system is offset against the electricity imported from the network of the house for which an application is submitted.

In case of "Approval with Reservation", the applicant will be asked to send by registered mail the following supporting documents in order to proceed with the process of payment of the grant:

(PLEASE DO NOT PROCEED WITH THE DISPATCH OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS IF YOU ARE NOT OFFICIALLY INFORMED BEFOREHAND THAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN "APPROVAL WITH RESERVATION")

1. The "Applicant Declaration Form", which will be sent through the electronic system to the applicant and will include – among others – all the basic information that the applicant himself/herself stated during the electronic submission of his/her application. The Declaration must bear the signature of the applicant.
2. Completed and signed the FIMAS Authorization, which must necessarily be accompanied by: 
3. A copy of part of the bank statement or a certificate from the Bank, showing the IBAN number of the account, in order to confirm the information declared in the FIMAS Authorization.

• Grant Scheme for the encouragement of the use of RES and Energy Savings in dwellings 2022-2023 (GR)

• Account Creation Guide (GR)
• Application Submission Guide (GR)
• List of Mountain Areas

• Declaration for Invoices that have not been issued in the name of the applicant – shall be submitted only if an invoice has been issued in a different name from that of the applicant (or to any other name other than the name of the applicant)

1. Who can apply for the Scheme?

Natural persons who invest in the installation of a photovoltaic system in the dwelling in accordance with the provisions of the Scheme. For CATEGORY 3A, applicants do not need to be homeowners, but the electricity bill must be in their name. Each beneficiary can submit only one application.

2. Can I apply and then start implementing the investment?

No. The "APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING" is submitted AFTER the completion of the eligible investment.

3. Invoices have not been issued in my name. What can I do?

The name of the person to whom the invoices have been issued should be the same as the name of the applicant (without mentioning any other name). In the event that the invoices have been issued in a different name from that of the applicant or in case that along with the name of the applicant any other name is written, a relevant declaration must be submitted, which must be completed both by the person in whose name the invoices were (also) issued and by the applicant.

4. I don't have a bank account in my name. Can the sponsorship of my application be paid to a relative of mine?

No. The sponsorship is deposited in a bank account in which the applicant must be a beneficiary or co-beneficiary.

5. Can I get a grant for a house I rent?

Yes, as long as the house is rented from a natural person to a natural person. If the house is rented by a legal entity (e.g. company) it is not eligible for sponsorship. According to the provisions of the Scheme, "the residences should not be rented by a legal entity and should not be used in the context of economic activity for a period of at least five (5) years from the date of submission of the application".

6. Can I get a grant to invest in my store/ancillary building?

No. The property on which the investment will be made should be legally used as a residence and the electricity bill of the house should be related to house tariffs. Facilities on premises that are not legally used as residences (e.g. ancillary premises/shops/businesses) are not subsidized.

7. Can I get a grant for my house and my cottage?

Both the house and the cottage are eligible for sponsorship, as long as they exist legally and the electricity bill of the premises relate to house tarrifs. Note, however, that only one "APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING" can be submitted by each beneficiary.

8. I have invested in a new house. Can I apply?

No. Eligible are residences for which the application for a building permit and/or urban planning permit was submitted before 01.01.2017. 

9. During the submission of the "APPLICATION FOR GRANT FUNDING" I forgot to attach some supporting documents or attached the wrong supporting documents. What can I do? 

After the final submission of the application, any modification and / or presentation of additional documents is not accepted. In case these documents are necessary for the purposes of examining the application, you will be contacted during the evaluation of the application.

10. Can I apply for CATEGORY 3A and any other CATEGORY of the Scheme?

No. CATEGORY 3A applicants may not apply for any of the other CATEGORIES of the Scheme (CATEGORIES 1, 2 and 3B).