About 150,000 households still use oil or gas boilers, while heat pump subsidies can cover up to 60% of installation costs.
Heating and cooling make up around 70 per cent of household energy use in Cyprus, according to a report released on Thursday by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), which examined heat pump markets across European Union member states.
The study found that Cyprus has a very different climate profile from much of Europe. The country experiences around 81 per cent fewer heating degree days than the EU average, while cooling degree days are about 610 per cent higher. As a result, energy demand in homes is driven far more by air conditioning than by space heating.
Data included in the report show that renewable sources provide roughly 43 per cent of the energy used for heating and cooling across all sectors in Cyprus. Despite this, an estimated 150,000 households, equivalent to about 39 per cent of homes, still rely on oil or gas boilers for heating.
Heat pumps are already widely used on the island, primarily for cooling purposes. Their cooling output is more than five times greater than their heating output. The report estimates that replacing an oil-fired boiler with an electric heat pump could cut energy use by approximately 83 per cent and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 68 per cent. Actual savings vary depending on factors such as insulation standards, equipment performance and household usage patterns.
The report also examines the condition of Cyprus’ building stock. Around 57 per cent of buildings were constructed before 2000, before stricter energy-efficiency requirements were introduced. This means many properties were built to lower energy performance standards than those required today.
The findings also point to ongoing affordability challenges. About 15 per cent of households report being unable to keep their homes sufficiently warm, while 8 per cent have fallen behind on utility payments.
To encourage the adoption of more efficient heating and cooling systems, subsidy programmes are available that can cover up to 60 per cent of the cost of installing a heat pump, provided applicants meet the relevant eligibility criteria.
The report draws on publicly available information from sources including Eurostat, EurObserv’ER, the European Heat Pump Association and national statistical agencies.
