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Overview
Cyprus supports the deployment of RES, mainly PV with a number of different schemes. The Support Scheme for RES and Energy Efficiency 2021 offers subsidies for the purchase and installation of rooftop PV in the domestic sector that will operate under a net-metering scheme. Apart from that, the Support Scheme for RES for own consumption 2020 enables domestic and non-domestic customers to connect a rooftop or ground-mounted PV installation under a net-metering scheme. In addition, the same scheme foresees the connection of (ground-mounted or rooftop) PV and/or biomass/biogas installations under a net-billing scheme, a variant of net-metering. Rooftop PV installations under a net-billing scheme and up to 10kW can be supported through a subsidy offered by the Energy Efficiency- Upgrading of Domestic Buildings 2021 scheme. Finally, Public schools in Cyprus can install a PV system that will operate under a net-metering scheme.
Cyprus 2030 RES target is 22.9% and in 2019 the RES share in the electricity sector was only 9.8%. Nevertheless, Cyprus expects to increase the share of renewables in the electricity sector at 30.3% by 2030. -
Summary of support system
● Subsidy (Support Scheme for RES and Energy Efficiency 2021): Cyprus supports the purchase and installation of rooftop PV in the domestic sector. A yearly call is issued and all interested applicants can apply for a subsidy. 3 different categories are eligible for support. All installed rooftop PV installations will be connected under a net-metering scheme. ● Subsidy (Energy Efficiency- Upgrading of Domestic Buildings 2021): The support scheme supports the purchase and installation of rooftop PV in the domestic sector. All installed rooftop PV installations under this scheme will be connected under a net-billing scheme. ● Net-Metering (Support Scheme for RES and Energy Efficiency 2021): All installed rooftop PV installations supported under Support Scheme for RES and Energy Efficiency 2021 will be connected under a net-metering scheme. ● Net-Metering (Support Scheme for RES in Public Schools 2021): Public schools in Cyprus can install a PV that will operate under a net-metering scheme. ● Net-Metering (Support Scheme for RES for own consumption 2020): Under the Support Scheme for RES for own consumption 2020, domestic and non-domestic customers can connect rooftop or ground-mounted PV installations under a net-metering scheme. ● Net-Metering (Support Scheme for RES for own consumption 2020- Net-Billing): Under the Support Scheme for RES for own consumption 2020, all natural and legal persons can connect (ground-mounted or rooftop) PV and/or biomass/biogas installations under a net-billing scheme.
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Competent authorities
● MECI ● RESEC Fund ● EAC ● TSO Cyprus
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Summary
The electricity sector is projected to play the most important role in meeting the 2030 RES target of 22.9%. RES share in the electricity sector was 9.8% in 2019 and is projected to reach 30.3% by 2030. Ground-mounted and rooftop PV will be the major technologies that will contribute to this target. More specifically, the installed PV capacity in Cyprus reached 149.5 MW in 2019 and 804 MW are projected to be deployed by 2030. Apart from that, onshore wind will be the second most important technology. 158 MW of onshore wind capacity have been installed by 2020 and the maximum capacity is expected to reach 198 MW by 2025 and then remain stable until 2030 (NECP Cyprus, 2020). This is the reason, why the permit and authorisation processes for these technologies will be described here in detail.
With regard to the licensing procedure in Cyprus, every RES plant developers should at first take specific planning restrictions into consideration, which will be examined in the administrative authorisation procedure (site selection process). Then, plant developers should apply for an installation licence to Cyprus Regulatory Energy Committee (CERA). RES plants < 5 MW and autonomous electricity producers that produce electricity for own consumption below 1 MW can apply for an exemption. The administrative authorisation process is the most crucial licensing step as it entails the issue of the planning permission by the Planning Authority, where the EIA approval is necessary. In addition, plant developers should apply for a building permit from the Local Authority. The next step foresees the application for an operation license by CERA. Finally, grid connection application is submitted either to the distribution system operator (DSO- Electricity Authority of Cyprus-EAC) or the TSO Cyprus. -
Sequential order of process steps
● Site selection process
● Electricity production license process
● Administrative authorisation process
● Other (Operation license)
● Grid connection permit -
Competent authorities
● CERA
● Municipal/ Local Planning Authorities
● EAC
● TSO Cyprus
● MECI
● MOA
