Cyprus opens €20m home energy upgrade subsidy scheme
Applications for the "Exoikonomo – Anavathmizo" housing scheme opened on 20 October, offering grants of up to €32,000 per home until funds run out or the 30 December deadline.
Homeowners can start applying for the new "Εξοικονομώ – Αναβαθμίζω στις Κατοικίες (2026)" grant scheme from 9am on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, as announced by the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry. The programme carries a total budget of €20 million under the ThALEIA 2021–2027 framework, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Cyprus.
Applications close at 11:59pm on 30 December 2026 or earlier if the budget is used up, and submissions are accepted only through fundingapps.meci.gov.cy. Priority is decided by the order in which applications arrive, so the ministry advises preparing paperwork early.
Grants depend on the type of upgrade: up to €32,000 for homes reaching nearly zero-energy building status with at least 60% primary energy savings, or up to €24,000 for the same 60% saving without that standard. Eligible work covers insulation, window and frame replacement, shading, solar water heating, high-efficiency air conditioning, heat pumps, photovoltaics and battery storage, plus expert services.
What it means for residents
For households in older, poorly insulated homes this is the main chance to cut both heating and cooling bills, but the money is first come, first served, and spending before approval carries real risk.
- Check eligibility first. The house must be owned by a natural person, have a domestic EAC account, and have been connected to the grid before 1 January 2008 — or have had its planning or building permit applied for before 21 December 2007. Only one application per person is allowed.
- Get the energy certificate early. A ΠΕΑ issued from 15 May 2026 onwards is mandatory, and the saving is verified by comparing it with a new certificate after the works. Certificates come from experts on the Energy Service register.
- Keep every receipt. Works already carried out after the first certificate may count, provided not all eligible investments are finished before applying — but invoices and photos are essential, and any spending before approval is at your own risk.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
