Households wishing to proceed with the installation of residential photovoltaic systems this year are on hold. The anticipation of the announcement of the new government grant scheme, which is expected to subsidize the installation of photovoltaics together with domestic storage systems with batteries, has led to an impressive decline in applications for self-consumption.
Households, waiting for the financial support that will make the purchase of the systems more accessible, postpone their decisions, despite the fact that the investment remains highly advantageous even without a grant.
According to official data from the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC), in 2025 there were 38,856 applications for private consumption and only 89 applications involving a storage system.
However, the picture in the first eight months of 2026 (from 1/1/2026 to 25/8/2026) is completely different. Applications for private consumption plummeted to just 1,835. In contrast, applications involving battery saw an increase to 137. In total, 40,691 applications for residential photovoltaics and 226 applications with battery storage have been received from 1/1/2025 – 25/8/2026.
This finding confirms that while the majority of consumers suspend investments pending subsidies, those with the necessary financial comfort proceed promptly to install batteries, recognizing the strategic importance of storage.
Battery installation allows households to store the excess energy they produce during the hours of high sunshine and consume it in the evening, when the cost of electricity from the grid is particularly high. In this way, the maximum possible independence from price fluctuations and a drastic reduction of the final electricity bill are achieved.
EAC data show the widespread spread of photovoltaics in previous years. As of 31/12/2025, installed Net Metering systems amounted to 93,490 with a total capacity of 447.16 MW compared to 73,850 systems and 348.51 MW in 2024. In 2025 alone, 19,640 new Net Metering systems with a capacity of 98.65 MW were installed.
At the same time, Net Billing systems reached 2,098 with a total capacity of 150.47 MW at the end of 2025, recording 744 new installations (54.47 MW) within the same year.
As the EAC points out, the Net Metering systems that reached 447 MW on 03/2026 and Net Billing 119 MW on 03/2026 entail a net financial cost for EAC Supply.
These systems export energy to the grid during midday hours, when prices in the Pre-Day Market are zero or very low. However, this energy is offset against the consumption of households in the evening hours, when the cost of production jumps to €180-250/MWh.
Today, about 1,200 MW of RES are interconnected in the electricity system of Cyprus, putting intense pressure on infrastructure. Due to the small and isolated grid, during periods of low demand, spring and autumn, green energy cuts become necessary for stability reasons.
To address the problem, EAC is promoting the installation of large storage systems: an 80 MW / 160 MWh station at the Dhekelia HS, a 100 MW / 200 MWh station at the Monis HS, and one at the 250MW / 640 MWh Vassiliko HS.
