ENERGY: House Plenary ratifies Cyprus - Israel agreement

The House plenary has ratified an agreement between the Republic of Cyprus and Israel on cooperation in the fields of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.

The agreement was signed in Nicosia on November 3 2011 and according to a representative of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism it has also been ratified by the state of Israel.

Israel has set up a team to act as liaison with Cyprus on the basis of the agreement.

The aim of the agreement is the cooperation of the competent authorities of Cyprus and Israel through an exchange of knowledge and expertise concerning the installment and functioning of renewable energy sources systems as well as the drafting and management of grants and subsidy schemes in the field of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency.

The agreement also aims at drafting legislation and issuing regulations in the field of energy efficiency of buildings, home appliances and their classification, the development of the appropriate methodology and software for the energy efficiency of buildings in the residential sector and the preparation of energy certification of buildings.

There are special provisions in the agreement concerning energy control and projects to improve energy efficiency, inspection of boilers and air conditioning systems, as well as laboratory testing of solar water heating systems.