The government plans to launch a new national programme in early 2026, replacing the popular “Photovoltaics for All” scheme. This update will add subsidies for home energy storage batteries, helping households store excess solar power.
The change has sparked a rush among consumers wanting to lock in the current net metering system, which ends on December 31, 2025. After that, new photovoltaic applications will switch to the less advantageous net billing model.
Over 4,000 applications now await approval from the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC). EAC spokeswoman Christina Papadopoulou said they have hired extra help to handle the backlog.
Net metering vs net billing explained
Net metering works simply: extra electricity you produce from solar panels offsets what you use from the grid, like banking energy for free. You mainly pay fixed fees, making it very cost-effective.
Net billing is different and less beneficial. It pays you cash for surplus power based on the lower production price at that time, while you pay the higher grid price for what you use. This leaves you exposed to price swings and cuts savings.
Solar panels generate most power during the day when demand is often lower, overloading the grid and sometimes causing cutouts. At night, when demand peaks, the grid relies on costlier fossil fuels since stored solar energy isn’t available under net metering.
To qualify for net metering, submit a full application by December 31, 2025, with a building permit from before December 31, 2021. Approved contracts last 15 years. As of September 2025, 89,157 households chose net metering versus just 1,892 on net billing.
The Ministry of Energy says the new Cyprus photovoltaics scheme update, funded nationally, will support solar panels and batteries to ease grid overloads from solar peaks.
Source: Philenews
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