The Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry has announced a call for applications to the "Save-Upgrade in Homes (2026)" grant scheme, with a total budget of €20 million. The scheme forms part of the THALEIA 2021–2027 programme and is co-financed by the EU's European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Cyprus. Applications will be accepted from 9am on Tuesday 20 October 2026 until 11.59pm on 30 December 2026, or until the available budget is exhausted, exclusively through the online grant schemes system of the Industry and Technology Service, using the Chrome, Firefox or Edge browsers. Priority will be determined by the order in which applications are submitted. Any natural person may apply, with one application allowed per person under the call.
Eligibility and covered works
To qualify, homes must belong to natural persons and have an existing EAC account on a domestic tariff held by a natural person, while the home must have first been connected to the grid before 1 January 2008, or the application for its planning or building permit must have been submitted before 21 December 2007. The scheme covers thermal insulation of the building envelope, replacement of windows and doors, shading systems, solar water heating, standalone air conditioners and high-efficiency heat pump heating and cooling systems, photovoltaic systems, energy storage batteries and the cost of services provided by a qualified expert. Before applying, those interested must obtain an Energy Performance Certificate for their home, issued by qualified experts listed on the Energy Service's register. The scheme operates on a simplified cost basis, setting a specific grant amount for each type of eligible expenditure, and increased grants are available for homes of vulnerable consumers, homes in mountain areas and refugee homes on refugee housing estates.
Grant amounts
The maximum grant per home depends on the type of investment chosen. Investment type A carries a maximum grant of €32,000 and concerns homes upgraded to nearly zero-energy buildings achieving energy savings of at least 60%. Investment type B carries a maximum grant of €24,000 and concerns homes upgraded to achieve energy savings of at least 60%. The ministry made clear that a grant will only be awarded if the primary energy savings required by the chosen investment type are achieved, calculated by comparing the existing certificate with the final one issued once the works are completed. The existing certificate must have been issued on or after 15 May 2026, and all investments carried out or to be carried out after the home's initial certificate was issued will be eligible.
Works started before applying
Eligible expenditure may be carried out before an application is submitted, but at the sole responsibility of each applicant and without binding the ministry's final decision on whether the application is approved. In such cases, not all eligible investments may be completed before the application date. Applicants who choose to proceed with works in advance must keep all necessary supporting documents, such as invoices and photographs, confirming when the works were carried out and what they involved. Full details, including eligibility criteria and the grant amount for each expense and investment type, are set out in the scheme's implementation guide, published on the Industry and Technology Service's website, where applications can also be submitted.
Source: CNA
