Applications for household installations of PV systems reach target, official says

APPLICATIONS for the installation of net-metered photovoltaic (PV) systems, without receiving a grant have reached around 3,000, according to the head of the Cyprus Energy Regulation Authority (CERA) George Shammas.

He added that applications submitted by households belonging to vulnerable groups and thus eligible for a grant were around 2,000.

Shammas said that similar schemes for 2014 would be announced very soon, with CERA considering allowing raising the total capacity to be installed, up from 9 MW in 2013.

Household installations have exceeded 1,000, the head of CERA said with the remaining 2,000 expected to be completed soon.

The Energy Ministry had announced for 2013 a PV installation scheme for vulnerable households, with a capacity of up to 6 MW for 2,000 units. These installations were eligible to receive state grants.

A second scheme for the installation of PV systems without a grant was announced, for a total capacity of 9 MW for 3,000 units.

The net metering scheme allows consumers to install small photovoltaic systems, drawing electricity as normal but paying the difference between what is fed back into the system via their installed renewable energy source system. Vulnerable households were eligible to apply up to October 18 for a subsidy of €900 per one installed kilowatt up to 3kW. This covers about half of the initial investment cost.

The Electricity Authority (EAC) has offered to help offset the remainder of investment costs for some 200 households.

Visit www.cie.org.cy to find out more about available photovoltaic schemes.

 

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