The Tylliria Energy Community: A Milestone for Communities-Led Energy in Cyprus 

The Tylliria Energy Community has emerged as a flagship example of communitiesled energy action in Cyprus. Backed politically by national government, public-private funding and supported technically by the Cyprus Energy Agency (CEA), it marks a decisive shift toward communityowned renewable energy systems. As an island with isolated energy systems and high dependence on imported fuels, Cyprus faces unique challenges in achieving energy security, making decentralised, communitybased solutions especially impactful. A 2.2 million EUR public – private grand allocated to the Tylliria region has enabled the establishment of the Energy Community and initiatedthe procedures for its first renewableenergy projects. 

A central component of this funding is the installation of solar photovoltaic panels and energystorage systems across approximately 200 buildings, a 2.2million EUR project will be delivered through a combination of public financing and private cofunding from donors such as OPAP. CEA has guided the technoeconomic assessments and site planning that shape the rollout, ensuring the installations are technically and environmentally sound, financially viable, and sequenced effectively. Complementary national grant schemes will further strengthen the Energy Community’s organisational capacity, equipping local actors to manage community owned renewable energy over the long term, a crucial asset on an island where grid stability and energy resilience are central concerns. 

A Community Owned Structure with Strong Local Participation 

Formally established in September 2025 (and officially registered in November of the same year), the TylliriaEnergy Community brings together the local councils of Kato Pyrgos, Pano Pyrgos, Pachyammos, Mosfili and Pigenia in a notforprofit organisation. Its goals are to: 

• Generate renewable energy locally through new renewable energy installations 

• Improve energy efficiency in homes and public buildings 

• Support sustainable mobility and climateresilience efforts 

• Reduce energy poverty through inclusive access and shared benefits 

Community engagement has been exceptionally strong: more than 200 residents have expressed interest, and over 100 applications for photovoltaic and storage systems were submitted during Phase A. Throughout this process, CEA has provided day to day advisory guidance to streamline governance, manage member recruitment, and coordinate public procurement, support that is particularly valuable for remote island regions where technical expertise and resources are often concentrated in urban centres. 

CEA also brings nationallevel experience to the project. As Cyprus’s coordinator for local climateenergy planning, the agency supports 286 municipalities in developing joint strategies, expertise that strengthens Tylliria’s ability to integrate local renewableenergy action into broader islandwide sustainability efforts. Local leaders have praised CEA for helping turn a complex, pioneering initiative into a workable community project. 

A Blueprint for Sustainable Islands 

The Tylliria Energy Community illustrates how public – private funding, local participation, and specialised technical support can reinforce one another to create a durable model for energy democracy. For islands like Cyprus, where energy independence, resilience to external shocks, and local value retention are critical,communityowned renewable energy offers a powerful pathway to sustainable development. 

By combining strong citizen engagement with islandappropriate technologies such as distributed solar and local storage, Tylliria stands as a leading example of how sustainable islands can accelerate their energy transition while strengthening economic and social resilience. Its success offers a replicable model not only for other communities in Cyprus, but for islands across Europe seeking to build a more autonomous, climateresilient energy future. 

This best practice is extracted from our publication ‘Sustainable Regions in Action‘. Discover more best practices here!