GRANT SCHEME FOR RESIDENTIAL SOLAR WATER HEATING SYSTEMS (2023)

In this Grant Scheme (2023) the following major changes/additions have been made in relation to the respective Grant Scheme implemented in 2022:

1. AN INCREASE IN BUDGET, grant amount and number of eligible dwellings.
    
2. THE CREATION OF A SPECIAL CATEGORY FOR VULNERABLE ELECTRICITY CONSUMERS that benefits from an increased grant amount.
    
3. A RADICAL MODIFICATION OF THE APPLICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS:
   • A PRE-APPROVAL APPLICATION is submitted by potential beneficiaries BEFORE the implementation of the installation. The application is rejected if it is found that the installation work of the new system had begun BEFORE PRE-APPROVAL had been granted.
   • Hand-written certificates from Installers will no longer be accepted. Participating Installers must directly enter the details of each installation into the electronic system.
   • Investments are eligible for funding only if the installations are carried out by Certified Installers that are registered in the "LIST OF PARTICIPATING INSTALLERS".
   • Any equipment that will be installed (tank and solar collectors) must be included in the "ELIGIBLE EQUIPMENT LIST" that has been pre-approved and coded.

• Only ONE PRE-APPROVAL Application can be submitted by each beneficiary and/or for each dwelling and/or for each system.

• Τhe dwelling in which the investment will be made should be legally used as a residence and the residence's electricity bill should only relate to Domestic Tariffs. Facilities on premises that are not legally used as residences will not be subsidized.

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

• Indicative average time for processing PRE-APPROVAL Applications: 2 months. (This information is non-binding and is provided based on current data and under the precondition that the Application submitted is complete without any problems and/or omissions.)
   

 For your better guidance in the materialisation of the investment, you may wish to consult the booklet found below:

Ηλιακά Συστήματα παραγωγής ζεστού νερού χρήσης - Συμβουλές προς τους αιτητές

"PRE-APPROVAL" applications are assessed in order of priority. In case of approval, the Applicant is informed both by email and SMS.

According to the provisions of the Grant Scheme: 

• In case of “PRE-APPROVAL”, the applicants must- in consultation with a PARTICIPATING INSTALLER - proceed with the installation of the equipment. NO extension of the 4-month deadline will be granted. 

• The implementation of the installation within the specified deadline of four (4) months is carried out with the exclusive responsibility of the applicant. Therefore, within the period of four (4) months, the applicants must -at their own responsibility- see to the timely identification of and cooperation with a participating installer, for the implementation of the installation and input of all relevant new information into the electronic system.

• PRE-APPROVAL will be automatically revoked after the expiration of the deadline of four (4) months if there is no updating of the electronic system with regards to the implementation of the installation by a participating installer. 

The following are noted:                                         

1. Updating of the electronic system after the installation of the equipment must be carried out by the participating installer and not by the applicant. When the electronic system has been updated, the applicant will receive a notification by e-mail and SMS. The examination of the application will proceed without the need of any action by the applicant.
2. In order for the system to be updated, regarding the implementation of the installation by the participating installer, the installer needs to be supplied with only the following two pieces of information: 

o your Approval Number (2301####)

o the Secret Code that has been sent to you along with the Approval of your application

With these two numbers above, the installer can view the Applicant’s name, surname and address to which PRE-APPROVAL has been granted for the implementation of the investment.

3. Equipment to be installed (cylinder and solar panels) should be included in the ELIGIBLE EQUIPMENT LIST. Any installations that will be carried out using equipment that has not been included in the ELIGIBLE EQUIPMENT LIST will not be eligible for funding.

4. PRE-APPROVAL concerns the installation or replacement of a solar system at the address for which PRE-APPROVAL was granted. If the installation has been carried out at a different address and/or residence then it will be rejected. 

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

• For citizens with Cypriot Citizenship: Copy of the 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 a "PRE-APPROVAL Application" you will be asked to attach the following documents in electronic form (scan):

1. A recent Electricity Bill of the residence where the solar water heating system will be installed. It is NOT necessary for the bill to be in the applicant's name.
2. A statement from your electricity supplier (EAC), indicating the date of first connection (which should be before 31.12.2009).

• Alternatively, applicants may submit official documents which prove that the application for the building permit and/or town planning permit of the residence had been submitted before 31.12.2009 (e.g. a copy of the Building Permit and/or the Town Planning Permit and/or the application for their issuance).

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS IN THE CASE OF DWELLINGS OF VULNERABLE ELECTRICITY CONSUMERS: 

If the "PRE-APPROVAL Application" is submitted for a dwelling where a vulnerable electricity consumer is residing and in the case that the APPLICANT IS A DIFFERENT PERSON THAN THE VULNERABLE ELECTRICITY CONSUMER then the following must also be submitted : 

1. Α copy of the identification card of the vulnerable electricity consumer (one of the three documents mentioned above) and
2. Appropriate documentation that proves the first-degree relationship between the Applicant and the vulnerable electricity consumer (e.g. birth/marriage certificate, etc.). 

The confirmation of installation of the solar system is done directly by the participating installers through the electronic system, the latest within five (5) working days from the installation of the solar system. With the confirmation of the installation the participating installers must attach the following:

1. Detailed Invoice(s) of purchase and installation of the solar system which should be issued in the name of the applicant:

• Where invoices have been issued under a different name than that of the applicant, a relevant statement should also be submitted which must be completed both by the applicant and by the person in the name of whom the invoices have been issued. 
• INVOICES ISSUED IN THE NAME OF LEGAL ENTITIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AND WILL BE REJECTED.

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

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

1. Τhe "Application Declaration Form", which will be sent to the applicant through the electronic system and will include-among others- all the basic information that the applicant himself/herself has stated during the electronic submission of his/her "PRE-APPROVAL Application". The Declaration Form must be signed by the applicant. 
2. A FIMAS Authorisation Fοrm which has been completed and signed and must necessarily be accompanied by:
3. Α copy of part of a bank statement or a bank certificate showing the IBAN number of the account in order to confirm the information declared in the FIMAS Authorisation Form.

• GRANT SCHEME FOR THE INSTALLATION OR REPLACEMENT OF SOLAR WATER HEATING SYSTEMS (2023)(GR)

• Account Creation Guide (GR)
• Application Submission Guide (GR)
• Solar Water Heating Systems - Advice to Applicants (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 to that of the applicant (or to any other name other than the name of the applicant)