Filenews 5 December 2021 - by Eleftheria Paizanos
The sponsorship plans and incentives provided in the context of the implementation of the National Recovery Plan have started to run, through which Cyprus is expected to receive €1.2 billion by 2026, after implementing 58 reforms and 75 investments.
Three projects are currently open and interested parties can consider whether they are eligible to receive funding. Five more projects are expected to open soon. So far, both the plans that are now open and those that will be opened concern the axis of the green economy. This axis will contribute to the green transition and environmental sustainability through the achievement of national targets for climate neutrality, energy efficiency and renewable energy sources.
This axis will promote reforms in the areas of climate and energy, sustainable transport, water resource management and the environment. The actions included in the green economy reach 41% of the total budget of the Plan. The Directorate-General for European Coordination and Development Programmes (EPCD), in order to ensure transparency and to immediately inform potential beneficiaries about the funding opportunities offered under the Cyprus Recovery Plan, posts all calls for proposals issued by the competent bodies, in the context of the implementation of the individual sponsorship and incentive plans that have been included in the Plan. All projects are posted on the Information Portal for Funding Programmes of DG EPCD, in a special section that has been formed for the Plan. As mentioned, through the Portal, interested parties have the opportunity to search for calls for proposals by category of program, or by thematic unit (e.g. employment, industry, commerce, energy, transport, environment, health, etc.), or by category of beneficiary (e.g. unemployed, Local Government Authorities, employees, employers, researchers, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, Local Government Authorities, etc.). Both existing (open) and planned (future) calls are posted on the Portal, following the completion of their preparation, for the purpose of timely information and preparation of potential beneficiaries and their participation in the respective projects.
Open plans
The plans that are currently open are the sponsorship plan to encourage the use of Renewable Energy Sources in local authorities and non-profit organizations, the sponsorship plan for the installation/expansion of photovoltaic systems and the installation of smart meters in homes for charging an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle as well as the sponsorship plan to encourage RES in homes.
In detail, the programs are:
- Sponsorship plan to encourage the use of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) and energy saving in local authorities and non-profit organizations. The aim of the plan is to encourage the use of RES and to implement energy saving measures in municipalities and communities as well as in non-profit organizations. The plan, as stated on the EPCD website, is under development and the submission of applications would start in early December and would be completed on December 31, 2021.
- Sponsorship plan for the installation / expansion of photovoltaic systems and the installation of smart meters in homes for charging an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The aim of the project is to promote the use of electric vehicles and their charge from alternative energy sources. It also seeks to collect information on the charging of electric vehicles and/or plug-in hybrid vehicles in Cyprus as well as to achieve the objectives of the Republic in the fields of green development. The total budget of the project is €1 million. and the submission of applications is completed on December 20, 2021. Sponsorships from the state range from €750 to €2,250.
- Sponsorship plan to encourage the use of RES and energy saving in homes. The aim of the plan is to encourage the use of RES and to implement energy saving measures in existing buildings used as residences, which belong to natural persons who reside permanently in the areas of implementation of the plan. It also aims at reducing energy costs to consumers and achieving the objectives of the Republic in the areas of RES and energy saving. The plan provides for investments related to the thermal insulation of roofs of existing residences, in combination with the installation of a photovoltaic system with the method of offsetting measurements as well as the installation of a photovoltaic system with the method of offsetting measurements in existing residences. The total budget of the project is €7.3 million. Applications began last April and will be completed on December 20, 2021.
Future grant plans to open soon
The five projects that will open in the coming period are:
- Grant scheme for the purchase of electric vehicles. The Plan provides for the granting of a grant for the purchase of electric vehicles or the purchase of an electric bicycle (assisted pedaling), in the form of a "ecological reward" for the purchase of vehicles with zero CO2 emissions (pure electric vehicles), with the simultaneous voluntary, subsidized withdrawal of old vehicles. Applications will start on 21 December and will be completed on 3 January 2022. The total budget of the project is €8 million.
- Plan to withdraw polluting vehicles and provide incentives for alternative, low-emission vehicles. The Plan provides for the granting of a grant for the withdrawal of vehicles from circulation and their replacement with low-carbon vehicles (with a CO2 emission limit of 50g/km), or the purchase of an electric bicycle, or the granting of bus tickets. Vehicle withdrawal is a basic requirement for participation in the Scheme. The amount of the grant ranges from €750 to €12,000 depending on the sponsorship category, while the total budget of the project will amount to €4 million. The submission of applications, according to the EPCD page, will start on the 6th of the month and will be completed on December 20th.
- Sponsorship plan to encourage the use of RES energy saving in homes. The Plan will contribute to the encouragement of the use of RES and the implementation of energy saving measures in existing buildings used as residences, which belong to natural persons residing permanently in the areas, to the reduction of energy costs to consumers, and to the achievement of the objectives of the Republic. It should be noted that this plan is under preparation and the submission of applications is expected to start in March 2022 and last one month.
- Sponsorship Plan for the installation / replacement of solar systems for the production of hot water in residences. The Plan will provide financial incentives in the form of government sponsorship, for the installation or replacement of solar systems for the production of hot water in existing residences. The plan is being developed.
- Sponsorship Plan for the installation /expansion of a photovoltaic system for charging an electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The plan will help to promote the use of electric vehicles and to charge them from alternative energy sources. It will also contribute to the collection of information on the charging of electric vehicles and/or plug-in hybrid vehicles in Cyprus as well as to the achievement of the Republic's objectives in the fields of green development.
