Cyprus

Overall assessment

Although the initial Cypriot National Recovery and Resilience Plan failed to include any reference to energy communities, the revision process, including the REPowerEU chapter, brought significant improvements.

Reform 1 (C6.1R1) of the REPowerEU chapter will establish the regulatory framework for energy communities through elaboration of existing laws through secondary legislation. This reform will thus promote the participation of citizens either as Active Customers and/or Renewable Self-consumers, through Citizen Energy Communities and/or Renewable Energy Communities, Demand Response through Cumulative Representation in the national energy market.

The Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority is tasked with completing the framework regarding Active Customers and Renewable Self-consumers, Citizen Energy Communities and Renewable Energy Communities.

Detailed assessment

General: allocation, definition, transposition

Specific allocation for energy communities

There is no specific funding earmarked to support energy communities.

Definition of energy communities in line with EU legislation

As outlined in REScoop.eu's Transposition Tracker, there are two laws that define energy communities in Cyprus, which are largely a copy-paste from the EU Directives. Further elaboration of the regulatory application is expected through bylaws. A reform that is expected to occur through the relevant REPowerEU reform.

Proportionality of share of total fund allocated to energy communities

There is no specific funding earmarked to support energy communities.

Availability of tailored financing tools

There is no specific funding earmarked to support energy communities.

Link to a wider scope of activities and objectives

Link between energy communities, building renovation and energy efficiency

Energy communities are not linked to activities other than just renewable energy production.

Recognition of energy communities under multiple objectives

Energy communities are only recognised under the objective of promoting renewable energy.

Transparency and inclusiveness

Holistic strategy to provide financing across different levels of project development

The REPowerEU chapter of the Cypriot NRRP dictates the creation of various Single Contact Points (as per the Renewable Energy Directive (EU) 2018/2001), which will be used to facilitate all the administrative, information, and permit granting processes for interested active consumers and RECs/CECs. These spaces will also be used to facilitate cross-stakeholder dialogues.

Transparency of the design and communication of the schemes and measures

This information is not available yet.

Selection criteria and the prioritisation of various social components

This level of information is not available yet.

Decentralised tender process

The funding programs for energy communities under the Cypriot Recovery and Resilience Fund are managed in a centralised manner.

Existence of procedures to facilitate the participation of energy communities in open calls

No calls for funding have been published yet (or are expected) under the Cypriot NRRP. However, access to information, including around financing opportunities, is expected to occur through the dedicated Single Contact Points envisioned under the REPowerEU reform.

Stability and predictability of the programme through time

The program is expected to be stable, however not enough information is available at this stage.

REPowerEU

Inclusion of energy communities in national REPowerEU chapter

The REPowerEU chapter strongly improved the overall support for energy communities in the Cypriot NRRP. More detailed information can be found in the REPowerEU tab.