Cyprus announces third phase of residential energy upgrade plan

The Cypriot Ministry of Energy, Commerce, and Industry announced the third call for proposals for the 'Save and Upgrade' housing plan, starting in September. With a budget of 20 million euros, the initiative brings the total funding allocated under the Th.Al.E.I.A. program to 85 million euros. The scheme provides grants of up to 32,000 euros per residence for renovations including thermal insulation, window replacement, and renewable energy installations. Eligible applicants must be individuals owning homes built before January 1, 2008, with an existing EAC residential electricity account. Priority and a 20% grant increase are provided to vulnerable households, mountain residents, and refugees. Addressing previous delays, the Ministry noted that administrative bottlenecks caused by a surge in payment applications have been mitigated through new risk-based auditing procedures approved by the European Commission. These changes allow for faster processing of low-risk applications, potentially bypassing mandatory on-site inspections.