Filenews 9 March 2021 - by Adamos Adamou
The 'portal' for the submission of applications by interested parties for participation in the grant project, amounting to EUR 30 million, is officially opened today. The Ministry of Energy has already started to move the market at a critical time for the economy.
According to information provided by the 'F', the electronic submission of applications will begin at 9 this morning, as part of the official announcement of the project, for which the relevant guide and other information have long been communicated. Applications will be accepted by natural persons through the website https://fundingapps.mcit.gov.cy/ that there is registration on the government web portal "Ariadne". Natural persons who have already registered and identified themselves at the Ariadne portal are not required to repeat the procedure. The announcement of the project from the beginning of the year by Energy Minister Natasha Pelidou caused the interest of several citizens, while the publication of the relevant application guide that followed caused panic in the ministry, which, as we are informed, has been the recipient of hundreds of calls in the previous days.
Interest in the project, which offers sponsorships for energy upgrading of existing homes, despite restrictions due to the pandemic, has caused a great deal of mobility and workload to dozens of ETEK members registered in the Register of Specialised Experts of the Ministry of Energy. These experts are responsible for issuing an Energy Efficiency Certificate (EIA), which should accompany the applications of natural persons. According to our information, in fact, small and large offices of mechanical engineers, architects and other members of the ETEK, who are registered in the relevant register of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Energy, they even had to work weekends in order to issue ANI, with the aim of submitting applications from interested citizens, if possible within the current week. It is noted that, under the plan, applications should be accompanied by the existing MES of a dwelling and the proposed one, as it will be modeled after the energy upgrade projects.
Details and ways to communicate about the project here.
The project will, as mentioned, provide grants for energy upgrading existing dwellings, with the aim of converting older energy-efficient buildings into energy-efficient buildings. In Cyprus, the energy saving potential is enormous, as 91% of all buildings in our country were built before the introduction of minimum energy efficiency requirements.
Under the "Save – Upgrade to Residences" project, the sponsorship rate will be 60% of the total eligible budget, while for vulnerable consumers the rate increases to 80%. The maximum amount of the grant can range from EUR 22 to 32 thousand, depending on the categories of investments. The project covers, inter alia, work on thermal insulation, replacement of frames, installation of shading systems, installation or replacement of solar, photovoltaic, air conditioners, solar energy storage batteries, automations, etc.
1. Have an EAC electricity supply account at a domestic price and that account belongs to a natural person.
2. The application for planning permission shall be lodged before 21 December 2007.
3. Be located in areas under the control of the Republic of Cyprus. Residences located in areas of the British Bases are not covered by this Plan.
4. The energy efficiency category of the dwelling shall be C or lower.
5. Not to have received a grant under any invitation of the "Save – Upgrade to Residences" Plan of FP 2014-2020 or from the Renewable Energy And Energy Saving Fund for the same eligible costs.
