Installing and Using Renewable Energy in Cyprus

Information on the Renewable Energy Sources (RES) available to a homeowner in Cyprus: solar power for home heating and cooling, pool heating and wind power for electricty. Find out about the subsidies available to run a greener house with clean energy...

Cyprus is in the sunbelt with a daily average of 5.4 kilowatt-hours (KWh) production of energy per square metre of land. As a result, solar thermal (hot water) is used extensively in 90 percent of the housing market; Cyprus received the 2007 international award for the highest usage of solar panels per person (750,000 inhabitants).

Available Renewable Energy

The Cyprus government has put forward financial incentives, mostly for the domestic sector, which seem to be a favourable investment for Renewable Energy Sources (RES) such as:

  1. Solar energy for home heating and cooling and pool heating
  2. Production of electricity with wind or solar energy (photovoltaics)

Biomass - the biodegradable produce, waste and residues from agriculture, forestry industrial and municipal waste - also seems to be used, though by commercial companies only. Wind farms are still at zero production with plans for the first operational farm in 2010.

Cost effectiveness is the key to using RES in the domestic sector. Including the financial incentives provided government subsidies the pay back period following the costs of installation of RES could be:

  • three to five years for the solar system for heating and cooling
  • two to three years for the solar pool heating
  • seven to nine years for the Photovoltaics

Cypriot Subsidies for 2008 (as known in February)

The following subsidies are provided (mostly to households) and include solar heated water, space heating and cooling, solar heated swimming pools, generation of electricity with photovoltaics and wind generation. Installation can be done only after the application for subsidy is sent to the Energy Department of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.

Note: This subsidy percentage is based on the total cost. Changes to the subsidy are due in August.

Project Subsidy Sold to the grid (to EAC)
Wind turbines less than 30 KW power 55% 4.567 euro cents per KWh production of electricity
Solar system for swimming pool 45%
Solar system for space heating and/or cooling 55%
Solar heated domestic hot water 20%
Photovoltaics 55% 20.5 euro cents per KWh
Photovoltaics 0 38 euro cent
Biomass
4.567 cent per KWh electricity production

Applying for a Subsidy

Subsidies are only available to residents of Cyprus (proof of residency is required).

All applications, except the solar heating of pools with plastic solar panels, go through the town planning department – subsidy application approval can take several months.

  • A homeowner can apply for a subsidy for the hot water solar thermosiphon system
  • Expert assistance is essential when applying for other subsidies because of the cumbersome technoeconomic and energy study that needs to accompany the application
  • Approval by the EAC is needed before an application for photovoltaics can be submitted
Information provided by Harry Karayan, President HK solar, HK Alternative Energy Solutions Ltd www.aitsolutions.ca/energy/ Tel: (+357) 99 533 641 Copyright © 2008 HK Alternative Energy Solutions Ltd. All Rights Reserved.