The Ministry of Energy, Commerce, and Industry will begin accepting applications for the "Exoikonomo – Anavathmizo" Grant Scheme for Homes (2024) on Thursday, November 21, 2024. With a total budget of €30 million, the scheme aims to support energy efficiency and residential upgrades, according to a statement from Minister George Papanastasiou.

Applications will be accepted from 9:00 a.m. on November 21, 2024, until 11:59 p.m. on January 31, 2025, or until the available budget is exhausted. Submissions must be completed exclusively through the Grant Scheme System of the Industrial and Technology Service, using the Chrome, Firefox, or Edge web browsers.

Applications will be evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis, prioritizing the order of submission.

The scheme is open to individuals who can submit one application per household. Eligible homes must meet the following criteria:

• Owned by private individuals.

• Not used for any commercial or economic activity.

• Registered with a valid residential Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) account under the homeowner's name.

• Connected to the electricity grid before January 1, 2008, or have applied for a building or planning permit before December 21, 2007.

The scheme covers various energy efficiency upgrades and installations, including:

• Thermal insulation for building envelopes.

• Replacement of windows and installation of shading systems.

• Solar water heating systems.

• High-efficiency autonomous air conditioning and heating/cooling systems.

• Photovoltaic systems with net billing, energy storage batteries, and services by certified experts.

Before applying, interested parties must obtain an Energy Performance Certificate for their home, issued by certified experts listed in the Ministry of Energy's registry.

The scheme uses a simplified cost process, offering predefined grant amounts for each eligible expense. Enhanced grants are available for:

• Homes of vulnerable consumers.

• Homes in mountainous areas.

• Refugee housing in government-designated settlements.

Regarding the maximum grant amounts:

• Investment Type A: Up to €32,000 for homes upgraded to Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings with at least 60% energy savings.

• Investment Type B: Up to €24,000 for homes achieving at least 60% energy savings.

• Investment Type C: Up to €7,775 for upgrading heating/cooling systems in homes with a minimum Energy Performance Certificate rating of B, including high-efficiency heat pumps and photovoltaic systems with net billing.

To qualify for a grant, applicants must achieve the required percentage of primary energy savings for their chosen investment type. Savings are calculated by comparing the initial and final Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) issued before and after upgrades.

The initial EPC must be issued on or after July 1, 2024. Eligible investments include those initiated or completed after the issuance of the initial EPC. However, applicants opting to begin upgrades before submitting an application assume full responsibility for compliance and must retain documentation (e.g., invoices and photos) to verify the timing and type of work completed.

Detailed information, including eligibility criteria and grant amounts, can be found in the scheme's Implementation Guide on the Industrial and Technology Service website. Applications must be submitted through the online system.