Cyprus: System Replacements Increase Efficiency
The Cyprus solar thermal market is shifting from “newly built” to “retrofitted” – a trend supported by the subsidy scheme of the Fund for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. This year, the fund run by the Cyprus Institute of Energy (CIE) offered more generous grants for residential solar water heater replacements than it had done in 2011. The 2012 grant scheme ended on 31 October 2012 but a similar scheme is expected for next year, too. The fund received financial support through a levy imposed on the electricity bill. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism uses the subsidies to increase the efficiency of solar thermal systems across the country.
Photo: Johnsun Heaters
The industry appreciates the efforts of the government: The sector for newly built homes has decreased a lot since the financial crisis in 2009 and has dragged the local manufacturers down with it. “The majority of the systems we are selling today replace older installations,” Andreas Ioannides, Technical Manager at Johnsun Heaters, confirms. The collector manufacturer based in Nicosia and founded in 1982 produced only one-fourth of the collector area in 2011 (1,000 m²) that it had manufactured in 2010 (4,000 m²). “We were hit twice – first by the slowdown in the national building sector and second by the decrease in our export markets like Spain,” explains Ioannides.
The subsidy scheme financed by the Fund for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy granted EUR 350 for the replacement of a complete solar thermal system of different types (low- and high-pressure, pumped or thermosiphon) between January 2012 and 31 October 2012 (find further details in the table below). In case the owner of the system only renewed the collector field, the grant was EUR 175 per collector for any number of panels. According to Ioannides, most solar tanks in Cyprus are made of copper, so in many cases the client just replaced the collector field to increase the efficiency of the system and left the tank in place.
This year’s subsidy conditions look much better than in 2011 when the fund was granting the EUR 350 only for replacing high-pressure, pumped solar thermal systems. Last year, thermosiphon systems received a mere EUR 175. Replacing a collector field was not supported at all.
More information:
http://www.cie.org.cy
Details about the subsidy scheme: http://www.cie.org.cy/menuGr/pdf/sxedia-xorigiwn/Sxedio_Xorigiwn_Fusika_Proswpa_2012.pdf (in Greek only)
http://www.johnsun-solar.com.cy
The following table describes the incentive scheme that was in place until the end of 2013.
|
Country / region |
Cyprus |
|
Name of programme |
Residential Solar Thermal Grant Scheme |
|
Type of incentive |
Investment subsidies |
|
Eligible technologies |
Solar water heaters |
|
Applicable sectors |
Residential solar water heaters and commercial, domestic hot water systems with at least 2.56 kWth (Collector power is defined as maximum power at G=700 W/m², ΔT=30ºK) |
|
Amount for residential solar water heaters |
Residential solar water heaters:
|
|
Maximum incentive for commercial solar hot water systems |
Highest possible grant: 45% of investment costs, maximum EUR 20,000 Highest accepted cost ratio: 1,800 EUR/kWth |
|
Requirements for system |
The installed system must comply with the technical guide for solar thermal systems issued by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Tourism |
|
Requirements for installation |
According to current building permit regulations |
|
Finance provider |
Fund for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which is run by a committee headed by the director of the Cyprus Institute of Energy. |
|
Total funds |
Total budget for 2012: EUR 300,000 |
|
Funding source |
The fund gets financial support from a levy imposed on the electricity bill. |
|
Effective date |
01/01/2011 to 31/10/2012 |
|
Expiration date |
End of 2013 |
|
Website |
|
|
Last review of this tabloid |
December 2012 |
|
Contact |
Cyprus Institute of Energy Andreas Lizides +357 22 409386 |
