Better Energy Communities (BEC) Programme

Funding Source: SEAI [embeddoc url=”http://3cea.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Grants-list-presentation-pdf-1.pdf” download=”all”]

Eligibility:

• Cross-sector projects for increasing the energy performance of buildings, community facilities and transport systems
• Residential housing upgrades to stock built prior to 2006
• Private sector non-residential building works
• Commercial organizations
• Voluntary organizations
• Community-based organizations
• Public sector non-residential works

Amount:

• A maximum grant funding of up to €1,000,000 is available for any one project
• The recommended minimum grant application value will be €30,000
• Up to 50% funding to community facilities – community halls, resource centres, schools, sports clubs etc.
• Up to 30% funding for private sector – SME’s, large commercial buildings, private nursing homes and hotels
• Amount of funding received is dependent on the project’s BEC evaluation
• Projects greater than €250,000 must be approved by the board of SEAI
• Projects under €250,000 may be issued contracts subject to approval but prior to the announcement of the evaluation BEC results
• Maximum funding levels for each component of project:

Projects:

• Building Fabric Upgrades
• Technology and System Upgrades
• Integration Control Systems
• Integration of renewable energy sources
• Heat Recovery Solutions
• Micro generation
• Smart metering
• Deep Retrofits
• Schools
• Energy upgrades to homes constructed prior to 2006

Other Notes:

• In order to secure funding, the project must follow the standards and requirements outlined below:
• Prescribed standards – SEAI Contractor Code of Practice and Building Regulations
• All contractors should be registered with SEAI (where applicable)
• Optimal solution must be implemented
• A post BER rating of B2 is SEAI’s minimum, as per the new Part L of the Building Regulations. Homes which do not achieve a minimum C1 and do not have a valid reason for not achieving B2 will be refused grant funding
• Representative sample of BERs required at application stage
• A pre BER and post BER should be published for all homes, this will be supported under BEC

Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme

Funding Source: SEAI

Eligibility:

• Ownership and occupation of own home
• Home built and occupied before 2006
• Be in receipt of one of the following:
  • Fuel Allowance
  • Job Seekers Allowance for over six months and have a child under seven
  • Working Family Payment
  • One-Parent Family Payment
  • Domiciliary Care Allowance
  • Carers Allowance and live with the person you are caring for

CLAR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais)

Funding Source: Department of Rural and Community Development

Eligibility:

• Rural areas that experience a disadvantage

Amount:

• Minimum – €5,000; Maximum – €50,000.
• Maximum payable is either 90% of project cost or max €50,000 whichever is lesser.
• Remaining 10% of the balance must be provided through local authority/community with a minimum 5% cash contribution from the school/community.

Projects:

• Play Areas for Children
• School Support
• First Response Measure

Other Notes:

• Funding is allocated based on locally identified priorities

Climate Action Fund

Funding Source: Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

Eligibility:

• Public and private sector – non-commercial state bodies, commercial state bodies and Local Authorities
• Only large-scale projects will be eligible for support – i.e. those seeking support of €1m or more.
• Only projects scheduled to commence the delivery stage in 2019 or 2020 will be eligible for support
• Projects will not be eligible for support if they apply to any other three funds established under the National Development Plan

Amount:

• €500m (2018-2027)
• Specific Categories
• Enabling undertakings to go beyond Union standards for environmental protection – 40% of eligible costs (ECs)
• Energy Efficiency Measures – 30% of ECs
• High-efficiency cogeneration – 45% of ECs
• Renewable Energy – 30% of ECs
• District Heating (Production Plant) – 45% of ECs
• District Heating (Distribution Network) – Eligible costs less operating costs
• Local Infrastructure (Including EV charging networks) – Eligible costs less operating costs
• An overall limit of 50% of total investment costs will apply to projects

Projects:

• Renewable energy projects
• Energy efficiency projects
• District heating projects
• Local infrastructure projects (including electric vehicle charging networks); and
• Projects that enhance the standards of environmental protection

 

Commercial Case Feasibility Grant

Funding Source: Enterprise Ireland

Eligibility:

• Researchers in third level institutions and non-profit research agencies/organisations in the Republic of Ireland are eligible to apply.

Amount:

• €10,000 to €15,000

Community Climate Action Loan Fund

Funding Source: Clann Credo

Eligibility:

• Community climate action programs

Amount:

• €10m allocation; €8.5m disbursed to various community projects involving energy and money-saving measures in schools, sports clubs, community centres, churches, sheltered housing and even an eco-village.

Projects:

• Renewable energy projects
• SEAI Better Energy Community projects
• Retrofits of existing community buildings and facilities
• Projects involving communities committed to low-carbon living

Community Finance Ireland – Various Loans

Funding Source: Community Finance Ireland

Eligibility:

• Commercial basis investments designed to support economic activity and employment

Amount:

• Funding dependent on application

Projects:

• €3m invested in Arts & Heritage projects
• €20m invested in Enterprise projects
• €3m invested in Social Housing projects
• €5m invested in Sports Clubs

Dairy Farm Grant

Funding Source: SEAI

Eligibility:

The 2019 SEAI Dairy Farm Grant is open to all dairy farmers supplying all major cooperatives and covering the full spectrum of dairy herd sizes, and who:

• Have a supplier number and are currently engaged in milk production AND
• Are registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine under the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Scheme as a herd owner or herd keeper (OR are a holder of another Department identifier AND
• Can supply a valid Tax Clearance Certificate

Amount:

Timeline:

• Pilot Grant: 2017 – 2019
• 18^th February 2019: Scheme opens for applications
• 29^th March 2019: Scheme closes for applications
• 1^st May – 28^th June 2019: Open for payment request submissions
• 28^th June 2019: Closes for payment request submissions
• July – September 2019: Inspections Period
• September – October 2019: Payments issued from SEAI to grantees

Other Notes:

• SEAI will endeavor to aprove applications and issue a Letter of Offer containing the Grant Agreement within 4 weeks of receiving a complete application. It may take longer during busy periods. Incomplete applications will not be processed for payment.

• The Grant Agreement must be signed by the applicant and returned to SEAI within 14 days of the date on the agreement.
• Payment or proceeding with any works until the return of the signed Grant Agreement will deem your application ineligible.

Deep Retrofit

Funding Source: SEAI

Eligibility:

• The house must have been built prior to 2007
• The BER must be C3 or lower (i.e. D1, D2 etc.)
• Projects must be approached in a ‘Fabric First’ fashion
• There must be an element of renewable energy included
• A pre-works and post-works BER must be conducted
• A pre-works and post-works Air Tightness Test must also be carried out

Amount:

• Capital costs of the project – grant funded at 50%
• BER Cost (€250) – grant funded at 50%
• Air Tightness (€500) – grant funded 50%
• Project Management costs – grant funded 50%
• BER A3 Design & Consultancy – grant funded 50%

Projects:

• External Wall Insulation, Cavity Wall Insulation & Internal Wall Insulation
• Floor Insulation
• Roof/Attic Insulation, including required roof ventilation
• Heat Pump (including radiators/underfloor heating, etc.)
• Windows & Doors
• Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels
• Ventilation (Demand Controlled Ventilation)
• Air Tightness measures (Taping etc.)
• Stove (Wood Burning Only)

Timeline:

• The deadline for project completion for including submission of all project documentation is 11^th October 2019
• Interim payments will be subject to the timely submittal of mandatory monthly progress reports and other specified deliverables meeting the criteria set out by SEAI
• Projects will be required to be completed within agreed delivery timelines as detailed in the contract
• SEAI will withhold 5% of funding, which will be released on receipt of an acceptable year-one post works annual data monitoring within 12 months from the Project Completion Date as specified in the Letter of Offer.

Other Notes:

• A project application must include a minimum of 5 dwellings
• The project owner (applicant) will be required to demonstrate that they have funding in place to cash flow the first 50% of the entire project, before a Letter of Offer will be issued.
• Funding will be provided to projects which demonstrate an integrated, comprehensive, strategy for significantly improving home energy performance, that achieve ALL the following minimum criteria:

Building Energy Rating (BER)

• A minimum Building Energy Rating (BER) of A3
• A minimum BER uplift of 150 kWh/m²/yr

Heat Loss Indicator (HLI)

• SEAI expect a minimum heat loss factor of 0 W/m²K in the BER to be achieved.
• SEAI will consider applications with a proposed HLI of greater than 2.0 W/m²K under exceptional circumstances and in evaluation of the proposed fabric solution.

Airtightness

• Dwellings for which funding is provided must achieve an air permeability of 5 m³/hr/m² @ 50 Pa or lower
• A bonus payment (1% of the total eligible project costs) will be made for projects which achieve a post works airtightness test result of 3 m³/hr/m² or lower.

Mechanical Ventilation

• SEAI require that mechanical ventilation systems are installed in order to provide adequate and controllable ventilation to ensure good air quality
• The system must provide a whole house ventilation solution
• Systems may be in the form of mechanical extract ventilation – demand control ventilation (DCV) or mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR).
• Decentralised systems may also be provided where appropriate.

Data (Energy) Monitoring

• SEAI require metering of energy consumption upon completion of works. This includes:
• A whole house electricity monitor to monitor the electricity consumption
• Where a heat pump is installed, as part of works, metering of the heat pump consumption for both space heating and water heating separately Is required
• Where solar photovoltaic panels are being installed, metering of the electricity generated by the PV installation and what was used or exported must be provided.
• Monitoring equipment must be capable of collecting hourly data at a minimum of 15-minute intervals.

Electric Small Public Service Vehicle (SPSV) Grant Scheme

Funding Source: Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport / National Transport Authority (NTA)

Eligibility:

• Existing SPSV drivers who operate under a standard vehicle licence and wish to replace their vehicle
• Existing SPSV drivers who operate under a WAV licence and wish to replace their vehicle with an electric WAV
• New SPSV driver entrants who operate under a wheelchair accessible licence and wish to drive an electric WAV

Amount:

• Up to €7,000 for battery electric vehicle (BEV)
• Up to €3,500 for plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs)

Other Notes:

• Fully hybrid vehicles and vehicles older than 6 years will not qualify for grant support under this scheme.

Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme

Funding Source: SEAI

Amount:

• PRIVATELY BOUGHT EVs

List Price of Approved EV	Grant
€14,000 to €15,000	€2,000
€15,000 to €16,000	€2,500
€16,000 to €17,000	€3,000
€17,000 to €18,000	€3,500
€18,000 to €19,000	€4,000
€19,000 to €20,000	€4,500
Greater than €20,000	€5,00

 

• COMMERCIALLY BOUGHT EVs

List Price of Approved EV	Grant
€14,000 to €15,000	€2,000
€15,000 to €16,000	€2,500
€16,000 to €17,000	€3,000
€17,000 to €18,000	€3,500
Greater than €18,000	€3,800

 

Other Notes:

• EV Scheme Grants (de Minimis Funding)
• SEAI grants are not are not available for second hand EVs

Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant

Funding Source: SEAI

Eligibility:

• Applicant
• Any private owner who buys an eligible EV in 2018 or later is eligible to apply for this grant.
• The EV must be parked on an off-street parking location associated with the home and the charger must be connected back to the fuse board of the home of the applicant.
• The Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN), which you can find on your electricity bill, will be used to confirm the location of your home.
• The property cannot be associated with a previous EV vehicle grant and charge point offer. For example, it cannot have availed of the free ESB e-cars home charger pre 2018.
• Do not commence any work before the start date on your Letter of Offer otherwise this expenditure will be deemed ineligible and you will not receive grant support for it.
• Vehicle
• Only vehicles registered new or bought second hand from 2018 onwards are eligible for a home charger grant.
• Only vehicles which are now or were previously eligible for grant support under the EV Grant Scheme are eligible.
• EVs include Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) or Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs).
• Vehicles purchased new in Ireland, privately imported as new or privately imported as second hand and registered in Ireland in 2018 or later are eligible.
• Second hand cars where ownership by the applicant occurs in 2018 or onwards are eligible.
• Vehicles must be registered for private use.

Amount:

• Up to €600 towards the purchase and installation of an electric vehicle home charger unit

 

Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS)

Funding Source: SEAI

Eligibility:

• Obligated party – supplier/distributor selling more than 600 GWh of energy per year to final consumers (Savings targets are allocated to parties based on their energy market share)
• Homeowners (to get support from any obligated party)
• Business/organization (to get support from any obligated party)

Amount:

Financial support can range from:

• A direct monetary contribution towards a project
• Facilitating low interest loans
• Negotiating discounts on materials (e.g. lighting supplies, high efficiency pumps and motors)
• Reduced energy prices or tariffs

Projects:

• Residential (Insulation – roof, external wall, cavity wall and floor insulation; Heating – high efficiency boiler, solar water heating and pump installation)
• Lighting (Decommissioning, maintenance, retrofit and controls)
• Heating (Servicing, set point regulation, control and fabric upgrade)
• Refrigeration (Temperature control, pipe insulation, relocation and replacement)
• Ventilation and air conditioning (Free cooling, maintenance, optimization of operation and general energy management)
• Motors, drives and pumps (Replacement, VSDs and control)
• Compressed air (Leak repair, optimization, redesign and replacement)
• Transport (Eco-driving, fleet and energy management)
• Combined heat and power (To meet ‘own use’ heat and electricity demand)
• Industry (Steam trap inspections, facility programmes and BMS)

 

European Local Energy Assistance (ELENA)

Funding Source: European Union – European Investment Bank

Eligibility:

• Public and private project promoters such as local, regional or national authorities
• Transport authorities and operators
• Social housing operators
• Other companies (Estate Managers, Retail Chains, Energy Service Companies)

 

Amount:

• Annual grant budget: €40m – €50m
• Co-funding basis; covering up to 90% of eligible costs

Projects:

• Feasibility and market studies
• Programme structuring, business plans
• Energy audits
• Financial structuring, preparation of tendering procedures, contractual agreements, project implementation units
• Sectoral focus:

Energy efficiency and building integrated renewable energy

• Public and private buildings (including social housing), commercial and logistic properties and sites, and street and traffic lighting to support increased energy efficiency
• Integration of renewable energy sources (RES) into the built environment – e.g. solar photovoltaic (PV) on roof tops, solar thermal collectors and biomass
• Investments into renovating, extending or building new district heating/cooling networks, including networks based on combined heat and power (CHP), decentralised CHP systems
• Local infrastructure smart grids, information and communication technology
• Infrastructure for energy efficiency, energy-efficient urban equipment and link with transport

Urban transport and mobility

• Investments to support the use and integration of innovative solutions for alternative fuels in urban mobility
• Investments to introduce on a large-scale new, more energy-efficient transport and mobility measures in urban areas including passenger transport, freight transport etc.

Residential sector

• Smart Finance for Smart Buildings Initiative
• Assessing the energy performance of buildings and providing guidance for future works: the facility could provide pre-assessment checks, support for energy performance certificates or energy audits
• Supporting access to financing: project development services could help households access financing from financial institutions, and/or available grants from schemes supporting energy efficiency (also in combination with guaranteed loans)

Timelines:

• 3-year implementation period for energy efficiency
• 4-year implementation period for transport and mobility

Other Notes:

• Typically, ELENA supports programmes above €30m and can cover up to 90% of technical assistance/project development costs
• Smaller projects can be supported when they are integrated into larger investment programmes
• Projects and grants are evaluated on a first-come first-served basis
• In duly justified cases, assistance could also be provided to other bodies, such as financial institutions (e.g. commercial banks) and public authorities to help them establish and deploy financial instruments and loan products targeting energy efficiency improvements in the residential sector

 

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Funding Source: European Union

Eligibility:

• Public bodies, some private sector oragnisations

Amount:

• €200bn (2014-2020)
• Co-financing:
• Less developed regions – up to 85% of project costs
• Transition regions – up to 60% of project costs
• More developed regions – up to 50%

Projects:

• Business investment in research and innovation
• Broadband deployment and high-speed networks
• ICT products, services, e-commerce
• Support to SMEs for growth and innovation processes
• Production and distribution of renewable energy, energy efficiency, renewable energy in enterprises, in public infrastructure and housing
• Investments for climate change adaptation
• Investments in the waste and water sectors
• Investments for improving the urban environment, including regeneration of brownfield sites

 

EXEED Certified Grant

Funding Source: SEAI

Eligibility:

• Public and Private Sector
• New design projects
• Major energy upgrades of existing buildings and assets

Amount:

• Grant Support of up to €500,000 per year.
• Grant level may be extended by 20% for small enterprises and 10% for medium enterprises
• Overview of the application stages and funding levels for the EXEED Grant Scheme:
• Professional services are supported up by 50% of eligible costs towards the EXEED Certified processes that determine energy performance opportunities.
• Capital associated with energy performance opportunity implementation is supported up to 30% of eligible costs.
• Professional services that support the implementation of energy performance opportunities are supported up to 30%.

Projects:

• Projects can be of any scale or complexity
• Retrofit upgrades
• High level processes required
• EXEED projects and EEOS

 

Green Enterprise

Funding Source: Environmental Protection Agency

Eligibility:

• Successful demonstration type projects from companies, organisations, public bodies and public benefit entities that will stimulate resource efficiency and the circular economy

Amount:

• 2018: €600,000 (Maximum of €100,000 per grant award)
• Grant Aid (2018): Co-funding basis, from 25% up to 95% of total eligible project costs incurred.

Projects:

Projects covering themes on:

• Food waste prevention
• Construction and demolition waste
• Plastics
• Eco-design

 

Home Energy Grants (SEAI)

Heat Pump System Grant

Eligibility:

• All homeowners, including landlords, whose homes were built and occupied before 2011 can apply.

Amount:

• Air to water – €3,500
• Ground source to water – €3,500
• Exhaust air to water – €3,500
• Water to water – €3,500
• Air to air – €600

Other Notes:

• Completion of three upgrades will increase the grant value by €300
• Completion of four upgrades will increase the grant value by an additional €100 (€400 in total)
• A grant of €200 can be availed for the technical assessment of the home (Provided a registered SEAI Technical advisor is chosen for the project and the heat pump system/upgrades are completed according to programme rules).
• This is different to other grant measures where the home must be built before 2006.

 

Heating Controls Grant

Eligibility:

• All homeowners, including landlords, whose homes were built and occupied before 2006 can apply.
• Homes built from 2006 onwards should have been constructed to the 2003 Building Regulations and should not need significant upgrades.

Amount:

• Heating Controls Upgrade – €700

Other Notes:

• Completion of three upgrades will increase the grant value by €300
• Completion of four upgrades will increase the grant value by an additional €100 (€400 in total)

 

Insulation Grant

Eligibility:

• All homeowners, including landlords, whose homes were built and occupied before 2006 can apply.
• Homes built from 2006 onwards should have been constructed to the 2003 Building Regulations and should not need significant upgrades.

Amount:

• Attic Insulation – €400
• Cavity Wall Insulation – €400
• Internal Insulation (Dry Lining):
  • Apartment or mid-terrace house – €1,600
  • Semi-detached or end of terrace – €2,200
  • Detached house – €2,400
• External Wall Insulation (The Wrap):
  • Apartment or mid-terrace house – €1,600
  • Semi-detached or end of terrace – €2,200
  • Detached house – €2,400

 

Solar Electricity Grant

Eligibility:

• Applicants are required to complete an ESB Networks NC6 form for the application for a connection to the electricity distribution system for a microgenerator
• Applications for payment can only be made after October 2018 and all applicants to the eligibility checker will be informed by email.
• Applicants must use registered contractors who are active on the Solar PV Pilot Scheme Registered Contractor List at the time of works.
• The electrical works must be completed by a Safe Electric Ireland electrician.
• The system is for newly fitted materials and new products and cannot have been incentivised previously in the particular home under any other grant programme.
• Qualifying expenditure includes materials and labour, except in the instance where a Contractor is completing works within their own home in which case only the cost of materials will be deemed qualifying expenditure.
• Post-works BER is completed.

Amount:

• Solar PV – €700/kWp
• Battery Storage System – €1,000

 

Solar Water Heating Grant

Eligibility:

• This type of grant is approved for the energy upgrade being applied to your full home.
• The upgrades are completed based on the average number of people that could live in a home of your size, rather than the actual number of occupants.
• If enough collectors are not installed this may result in non-payment of the grant.

Amount:

• Solar water heating grant – €1,200

Other Notes:

• Completion of three upgrades will increase the grant value by €300
• Completion of four upgrades will increase the grant value by an additional €100 (€400 in total)

 

Innovation Partnership Program

Funding Source: Enterprise Ireland

Eligibility:

• A manufacturing or internationally traded services company with an operating base in the Republic of Ireland that wishes to collaborate with one or more research institutes, also based in the Republic of Ireland, is eligible to participate.
• The company must be a registered client of one of the following state development agencies: Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta, a Local Enterprise Office.
• The company must have the full support of their assigned Development Adviser / Agency Contact to participate in the programme. This support must be confirmed before any application forms are submitted. Clusters of companies and/or research institutes are welcome to apply to the programme.

Amount:

• Grants of up to 80% towards eligible costs of the research project.
• Funding from Enterprise Ireland will normally not exceed €200,000. Exceptions to this limit may be made for established clients of Enterprise Ireland and other State development agencies where the Innovation Partnership project and the follow-on activity will clearly lead to a significant increase in the company’s employment and/or sales and exports.
• Grant funding to projects involving early stage companies and High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) clients will normally be capped at €100,000.

Projects:

• Phase 1
• Option 1 – Outline Proposal Document
• Option 2 – Innovation Partnership Feasibility Study
• Phase 2
• Full Application

Other Notes:

• All Innovation Partnership projects require the company partner to provide minimum cash contribution of 20% of the total project cost.
• In all cases, the company partner must have the resources to contribute its share of the funding for the research and to fund the commercialisation of the research, when completed.

 

Interreg B (Transnational Cooperation)

Funding Source: European Union – European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

Eligibility:

• National, regional or local public authorities
• Institutions governed by public law (e.g. regional development agencies, business support organisations, universities)
• Private non-profit bodies

Amount:

• The program is financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The total budget for the programme is €359m and is broken down as follows:
• €322.4m: Available to co-finance interregional cooperation projects implemented by EU partners. Partners from Norway and Switzerland will be co-financed by national funds from their respective countries
• €15.3m: Allocated to finance activities carried out by the Policy Learning Platform
• €21.3m: For technical assistance
• Co-Financing Rates:
• Public bodies and bodies governed by public law – 85%
• Private non-profit bodies – 75%
• Norwegian organisations 50%
• Swiss organisations – Swiss National Point of Contact

Projects:

• Infrastructures for research and innovation
• Creation, development and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises
• Energy efficiency investments
• Public buildings
• Housing sector
• Production and distribution of renewables
• Low-carbon alternatives for transport and mobility
• Support to cultural heritage
• Environmental performance management

 

Leader Programme

Funding Source: Department of Rural and Community Development / Local Action Groups (LAGs)

Eligibility:

• Public and private entities from administrative or county boundaries

Amount:

• Based on county’s budget allocation
• €250m (2014-2020)
• Fund Ceilings and Support Rates:

Projects:

• Construction, acquisition or improvement of immovable property;
• Purchase of new machinery and equipment
• General costs linked to expenditure referred to in points (a) and (b), such as architect, engineer and consultation fees, fees relating to advice on environmental and economic sustainability, including feasibility studies.
• Professional costs, such as the fees of architects, archaeologists, engineers and consultants, are eligible for funding up to a cumulative ceiling of 12% of the capital costs of such projects.
• Intangible investments such as the acquisition or development of computer software and acquisitions of patents, licences, copyrights, trademarks.
• Services and facilities targeting the disadvantaged and hard to reach.

Other Notes:

Further Information: http://www.nationalruralnetwork.ie/leader/

 

Life Program

Funding Source: European Union

Eligibility:

• Public bodies operating under a national government’s authority, e.g. local authority, national administration etc.
• Private commercial organisation
• Private non-commercial organisation (NGOs etc.)

Amount:

• The project budget depends on the project type.
• In general, LIFE projects are co-financed with up to 55% of the total eligible project cost, except for nature and biodiversity projects under the environment sub-programme which can receive up to 60% or 75% in specific cases.
• Preparatory and integrated projects are co-funded with up to 60%.
• Technical assistance projects can receive a contribution of up to 55%, which cannot exceed €100,000.

Projects:

• Environment sub-programme (75% of financial envelope)
• Nature conservation projects (Biodiversity, habitats, species)
• Climate action sub-programme (25% of financial envelope)
• Climate change mitigation
• Renewable energies
• Energy efficiency
• Farming
• Land use
• Peatland management
• Climate change adaptation
• Resilience to water scarcity, droughts, forest fires or floods
• Adaptive technologies for economic sectors
• Safeguarding natural resources
• Climate governance and information
• Awareness raising
• Training and capacity building
• Law compliance and enforcement
• Knowledge development
• Stakeholder participation
• Integrated projects
• Climate action plans, strategies, road maps required by specific EU laws in the areas of climate change mitigation and adaptation

Other Notes:

• Proposals for small projects with total costs below €500,000 have rarely been selected in the evaluation due to the limited output and consequently a low added value.
• Integrated projects usually have a total project budget of around €17m
• For preparatory projects, a maximum budget is specified in the documents of the call for proposal.
• When selecting proposals for funding, evaluators consider a partner’s financial contribution as a proof to their commitment to the project. A very low financial contribution maybe seen as a lack of commitment.

Lighting Support Scheme

Funding Source: SEAI

Eligibility:

• Individual businesses are welcome to apply but are encouraged to speak to an experienced lighting supplier in advance of making an application.
• SMEs with fewer than 250 employees across all sectors are eligible to apply. Annual turnover must not exceed €50m.

Amount:

• The SME Lighting Support Scheme 2019 will offer a grant of 30% of the eligible approved costs of upgrading existing lighting.

Other Notes:

• The grant is for the replacement of existing fittings, not fitting out a new site.
• The scheme reopens in April 2019

 

Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme (LASPP)

Funding Source: Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Eligibility:

• Local authorities and bodies

Projects:

• Construction of new swimming pools
• Refurbishments of existing pools

Other Notes:

• As of March 2019, the current programme is closed to new applicants.

ProEnergy Homes Scheme (Loan)

Funding Source: Various Credit Unions

Eligibility:

• Individual homeowners

Amount:

A 6.9% interest is applicable if applicants proceed with the loan (rate varies depending on credit union)

Projects:

• Attic, cavity wall and external wall insulation
• Solar thermal panels
• Heating upgrades
• Window upgrades

Other Notes:

• As of May 2019, there are 20 credit unions providing this scheme – 10 in Dublin, 2 in Wicklow, 2 in Limerick, 1 in Kildare, 3 in Galway and 1 in Louth.
• More information on separate document

 

Project Assistance Grants (PAG) for Energy Saving Projects

• GRANT FOR FEASIBILITY STUDY AND PROJECT ENERGY AUDIT
• GRANT FOR FINAL BUSINESS CASE AND PROJECT DELIVERY SUPPORT

Funding Source: SEAI

Eligibility:

• Public/Private Sectors
• The application must be submitted by the host organization (where the project will be undertaken)
• Site(s) must be in Ireland
• Private sector applications must not be in receipt of any other State Aid
• Public sector organizations must follow the five stage programme development process recommended by SEAI.
• Private sector organizations do not have to follow the 5-stage project development process recommended by SEAI. However, they must have robust arrangements in place for project development and must report on same to SEAI, if requested to do so.
• Must comply with funding levels and funding timeline
• The funding is subject to compliance with the 2013 regulation concerning de Minimis aid and any successor regulation as appropriate
• 1: The applicant must have established high-level objectives for the proposed energy project
• 1: The applicant must have secured management support
• 1: Project energy audit must be undertaken by an appropriately qualified individual/firm
• 2: The project must have completed an initial project appraisal (i.e. feasibility study and project energy audit) and the application must be accompanied by a declaration that the project is now at a stage where it is ready to progress activities that will incur eligible costs
• 2: The applicant must commit to implementing a comprehensive EPC or LESC, or to incorporating an energy performance guarantee element in its project

Amount:

GRANT FOR FEASIBILITY STUDY AND PROJECT ENERGY AUDIT 

Successful applicants will receive up to 50% funding of the itemized eligible costs, subject to a maximum limit of:

• €7,500 (€15,000 total costs) for a facility or facilities that spend(s) up to €1 million on energy
• €15,500 (€30,000 total costs) for a facility or facilities that spend(s) up to €1 million on energy

GRANT FOR FINAL BUSINESS CASE AND PROJECT DELIVERY SUPPORT

Successful applicants will receive up to 75% funding of the itemized eligible costs, subject to a maximum limit of:

• €37,500 (€50,000 total costs) for EPC/LESC
• €15,500 (€20,000 total costs) for energy performance guarantee

Projects:

• Projects involving ambitious packages of deep energy retrofit actions
• Projects comprising multiple project elements and/or technologies
• Projects that contribute to the development of the knowledge base of the supply chain
• Projects that will deliver energy savings of at least €50,000 are encouraged
• Applications from facilities or groups of facilities that spend more than €250,000 per annum are more likely to be supported
• Applications for projects below these thresholds are more likely to be considered for support if SEAI concludes that they are exceptional projects
• 2: External specialist services and certain material and equipment costs incurred in progressing projects that have passed an initial appraisal (i.e. feasibility study, energy audit) but for which final contracts have not been signed.

Timeline:

• Fully completed applications will be evaluated by SEAI within 4 weeks of application where successful projects will be issued with a letter of Offer outlining the terms and conditions of the funding
• Payment will only be made when the project is fully complete and for which all relevant documentation is submitted to SEAI within 4 months of the issuance of the Letter of Offer

 

Rural Economic Development Zone (REDZ)

Funding Source: Department of Rural and Community Development

Eligibility:

• Functional rather than administrative geographic areas that reflect the spatial patterns of local economic activities and development processes. They are, in effect, sub-county zones within which most people live and work

Amount:

• Based on county’s budget allocation
• 2018: €231m
• 2019: – €293m
• Funding Levels:
• 3 flagship projects – up to €250k; one in each region
• 6 medium projects – up to €150k; one in each region and 2 more on merit
• 17 small projects – up to €50k; two in each region and 6 more on merit
• 25 remaining qualifying projects will be offered up to 50% of the funding applied for on the following basis

Projects:

• Enhance employment or be shown to enhance employment potential.
• Display realistic and achievable targets and proposed outputs and outcomes.
• Show a coordinated effort from the community in line with the aims of Putting People First.
• Identify potential synergies between different economic opportunities and meet the social and economic needs of the community.

 

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Funding Source:  Department of Rural and Community Development

Eligibility:

• Category 1:

  “Ready-to-Go” proposals, or initial phases of projects which can be commenced in 2019, which have the necessary consents (e.g. planning) in place, are at an advanced stage of design, are in a position to satisfy value-for-money requirements in accordance with the Public Spending Code, and are procurement-ready.

• Category 2:

  Proposals that have clear potential and quantifiable objectives but require further development to enable them to be potentially submitted as Category 1 proposals in subsequent funding calls.

Amount:

• In general, the maximum contribution from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is 75% of the total cost over the lifetime of the project.
• A Fund contribution of 80% may be provided where local communities (excluding private companies or philanthropic funders) contribute more than half of the matching funding.
• Contributions from the Fund may also require to be adjusted if private sector companies or philanthropic funders are match-funding partners

Projects:

• Coordinated and integrated projects between Government Departments, State agencies, Local Authorities, other public bodies, communities
• Ambitious and strategic projects which contribute to sustainable rural regeneration and development.
• Investments of scale which would not otherwise be delivered without the additionality provided by the Fund, and projects that are outside the scope of existing schemes
• Multi-annual and multi-faceted, involving a number of elements or phases as part of a broad strategic plan.

Other Notes:

• Successful applications under Category 2 above will be approved to allow detailed development of the proposal to be progressed.
• Issues that may need to be addressed as part of the development of the proposal could include land ownership/title, planning and design work, value for money assessment, and procurement.
• Funding will be provided towards the cost of project development in these cases, including for technical or expert assistance.

Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH)

Funding Source: SEAI

Eligibility:

• Eligible Applicant

In order to be an Eligible Applicant, an applicant must:

• Be the owner of the heat pump at the date of payment of the Grant by SEAI; AND
• Be solvent at the Application Stage and the Payment Stage; AND
• Be tax compliant at the Payment Stage; AND
• Be a national of an EU Member State or a state belonging to the European Economic Area; OR
• Be a body corporate/undertaking established under and subject to the law of a Member State or a state belonging to the European Economic Area and having its principal place of business in a Member State or a state belonging to the European Economic Area; AND
• Have an Establishment or Branch in the State at the time that the Application is submitted and at the time of payment of the Grant; AND
• Not be in receipt of grant funding in respect of their project from any other source; AND
• Not be participating in the REFIT Scheme or have received funding under the REFIT Scheme
• Eligible Installation

Heat pumps and Related Ancillary Equipment that meet the criteria set out in this section will qualify as an Eligible Installation for the purpose of the Scheme.

• Every heat pump and each component of the Related Ancillary Equipment (equipment ancillary to the heat pump and a necessary cost, required for the purpose of installing the heat and for the purpose of running the heating system in the context of the project) must:
• Be a brand-new piece of equipment;
• Be purchased and installed after the applicant has received a Letter of Offer from SEAI;
• represent value for money in the market at the time the installation in purchased,
• Each heat pump:
• Must be affixed with Appropriate Metering Equipment
• Must have obtained a CE Marking, in accordance with the Eco-Design Regulations for Space Heaters and Combined Heaters;
• Must have a seasonal co-efficient of performance (SCOP) of at least 2.5, calculated in accordance with European Standard EN 14825 (2016);
• Eligible Building

In order to qualify as an Eligible Building, the building or structure in question must be:

• A building (any permanent or long-lasting building or structure of whatever kind and whether fixed or moveable which, except for doors and windows, is wholly enclosed on all sides with a roof or ceiling and walls)
• Meet the minimum U-values threshold set by SEAI
• Located in the State on a permanent basis; and
• Must contain an Eligible Space
• Eligible Space

In order to qualify as an Eligible Space, a space must not be a single domestic residence; and must be one of the following categories of space (as defined within the Building Regulations):

• Institutional residential (group 2a);
• Other residential (group 2b);
• Offices (group 3);
• Shops (group 4a);
• Shopping centres (group 4b);
• Some assembly and recreation buildings (group 5);
• Industrial buildings (group 6);
• Storage buildings (group 7a)
• Eligible Heat

Heat must be Useful Heat that is used for an Eligible Purpose

Useful Heat

• Be generated by an Eligible Installation owned by an Eligible Applicant;
• Be used for heating an Eligible Space(s) in an Eligible Building(s) and
• Meet an Economically Justifiable Heat Demand (heat demand that would need to be supplied by other fossil fuel heat sources under market conditions, if not for the Grant)

Eligible Purpose

• Heating a space: including rooms or other enclosed spaces within buildings, typically through the supply of hot liquid to heat emitters, such as radiators and underfloor heating;
• Heating water that is used within a commercial, agricultural, public sector or industrial building or district heating scheme; or
• Process heat: in the form of steam or hot water for processes such as industrial cooking, pasteurisation, chemical manufacture and agriculture

Amount:

• The installation grant provides funding of up to 30% of eligible costs to successful applicants
• Total investment aid to any one project will not exceed €1m

Projects:

• Installation Grant
• Air source heat pumps
• Ground source heat pumps
• Water source heat pumps
• Tariff
• Biomass boiler or biomass HE CHP heating systems
• Biogas (anaerobic digestion) boiler or biogas HE CHP heating systems

Timeline:

• Application Stage
• Application Stage – Technical Assessment
• Evaluation Stage
• Offer Stage
• Payment Request Stage
• Inspection Stage

Other Notes:

• Period of validity for this scheme shall be from 12 September 2018 to 31 December 2023
• The tariff will be made available to successful applicants for up to a period of 15 years
• Some buildings or projects may not be eligible to receive funding even though they meet the criteria set out above and expanded on below. A list of Ineligible Buildings is contained below:
• Existing buildings/structures which require the Eligible Installation and/or Related Ancillary Equipment in order to comply with the requirements set out in the Building Regulations; and
• New buildings/structures which require the Eligible Installation and/or Related Ancillary Equipment in order to comply with the requirements set out in the Current Building Regulations.

 

Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) Pilot Grant

Funding Source: SEAI

Eligibility:

• Current SEC network members
• Communities who are considering joining the SEC network
• Project coordinators and local contractors who are willing to transfer knowledge to local community groups

 

Amount:

• Up to €3m will be made available to communities in the Sustainable Energy Community network
• A maximum of €200,000 grant funding is available per application
• SEAI recommends the applicants consider grant applications of at least €20,000 due to the level of administration involved in this programme.
• Maximum funding levels for each component of project:

Projects:

• Cross-sector projects for increasing the energy performance of buildings, community facilities and transport systems
• Residential housing upgrades to stock built prior to 2006
• Deep retrofit housing upgrades (A3) to stock built before 2011
• Private sector non-residential building works
• Commercial organisations
• Voluntary organisations
• Community-based organisations
• Public sector non-residential works

Other Notes:

• Grant applications will be assessed on a first-come first-served basis.

 

Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) II

Funding Source: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Eligibility (General criteria):

• Farmers who own or have leasehold title to the site on which it is proposed to carry out the development
  subject to (ii) below;
• (ii) have a minimum of 5ha which have been declared under the Basic Farm Payment
  Scheme/Area Aid/Integrated Administration and Control System in the year of application or
  preceding year

Amount:

• Individual farmers – grant aid of 40% on investments up to a ceiling of €80,000 (Maximum individual payment of €32,000)
• Farmers in a registered farm partnership with the Dept. Of Agriculture – grant aid of up to €160,000 (For applications with two or more eligible farmers)
• Partnerships containing one qualifying young farmer grant aid will be paid at 60% on the first €80,000 and 40% for the remaining balance.

Other Notes:

• As of March 2019 – new €10m allocation; Opening on April 5
• 2019 budget: €70m
• New eligible investments:
• Solar PV Installation on Farms – to extend current availability under the scheme to all sectors. Grant aid in this initial pilot phase of up to €9,300 or up to 60% of the overall cost will be available to fund a 6kWp solar system;
• LED Lighting – all lighting funded under the scheme will be required to be LED lighting. LED Lighting uses a fraction of the electricity consumed by conventional lighting. The current specifications for TAMS II include lighting in all new farm structures. In future, only LED lighting only will now be grant aided.
• For Solar Power:
• The costs are based on a 6kWp solar system which comprises of a PV system size for a dairy farm of approx. 5.5kWp combined with a 4.5kWh of battery capacity.
• At this maximum size the grant provided at the 40% rate would be €6,200 and at 60% it would be €9,300.

 

Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme (YFCIS)

• Separate document.

 

Dairy Equipment Scheme (DES)

Amount: Standard rate of grant aid of 40%

Projects:

• Milk Cooling and Storage Equipment (Heat Transfer Units, Water Heaters)

 

Organic Capital Investment Scheme (OCIS)

Amount:

• Standard rate of grant aid of 40%
• Eligible young organic farmers can avail of a 60% rate

Projects:

• Organic Structures (Ventilation Systems for Grain Store)
• Rain Water Harvesting

 

Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme (PPIS)

Amount: Grant aid of 40% on investments up to a ceiling of €80,000

Projects:

• Solar Panels
• Heat Recovery Units
• Heat Pumps
• Energy efficient boilers
• Energy efficient upgrade for farrowing house

 

Tidy Towns

Funding Source: Department of Rural and Community Development / SuperValu

Eligibility:

• All areas (Big/small, urban/rural)
• Could be credible bodies such as local authority, residents’ group, development agency, local business, etc.

Amount:

• Waters and Communities Award – €7,000
• Our Community Climate Action Award – €5,000
• Sustainable Development Award – €5,000
• Clean Air Award – €3,000
• Heritage Award – €1,000

 

Town & Village Renewal Scheme

Funding Source:  Department of Rural and Community Development

Eligibility:

• Projects that have achieved a high standard using the criteria set out.

Amount:

• On a case by case basis depending on the budget, scale and complexity of the projects proposed.

Projects:

• Local, commercial and social centres
• Town/village environment and amenities
• Cultural and local heritage centres

 

Urban Regeneration and Development Fund

Funding Source: Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government

Eligibility:

• Funds allocated to cities and towns with a population of more than 10,000.
• Project Categories
• ‘Ready-to-go’ proposals that can be initiated in 2019 (consents, design etc. advanced or in place, therefore procurement ready), or
• Proposals that require further development and, subject to this, may be initiated in 2019 or in subsequent years

Amount:

• 2019: €100m
• Bid proposals must be co-funded and will require a minimum 25% stakeholder contribution.
• Bids must also demonstrate a further requirement for 100% (euro-for-euro) leveraging of committed wider private sector investment (i.e. development) arising from fund expenditure.

Projects:

• Urban Regeneration
• Public Realm, Enterprise Development
• Community Facilities
• Redevelopment of existing/vacant areas
• Enabling strategic infrastructure to leverage further development
• Cultural and amenity development.

Other Notes:

• Proposal must be innovative and transformational urban regeneration projects
• Bids for funding must be led by a public body, which may be a local authority or regional assembly, government department or agency, state-sponsored body, higher education institute or strategic Development Zone (SDZ) development agency.
• Collaborative bids from consortia will be encouraged and may also include private and or community/voluntary sector representation.

TYPE	GRANT NAME	FUNDING SOURCE
Community	Better Energy Communities (BEC)	SEAI
Home	Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme	SEAI
Community	CLAR	DRCD
Project	Climate Action Fund	DCCAE
Research	Commercial Case Feasibility Grant	Enterprise Ireland
Community	Community Action Loan Fund	Clann Credo
Community	Community Finance Ireland – Various Loans	CFI
Agriculture	Dairy Farm Grant	SEAI
Home	Deep Retrofit	SEAI
EV	Electric SPSV Grant Scheme	DTTAS
EV	Electric Vehicle Grant Scheme	SEAI
EV	Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant Scheme	SEAI
Project	Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS)	SEAI
General	European Local Energy Assistance (ELENA)	EU – EIB
General	European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)	EU
Business	EXEED Certified Grant	SEAI
Project	Green Enterprise	EPA
Home	Home Energy – Heat Pump System Grant	SEAI
Home	Home Energy – Heating Controls Grant	SEAI
Home	Home Energy – Insulation Grant	SEAI
Home	Home Energy – Solar Electricity Grant	SEAI
Home	Home Energy – Solar Water Heating Grant	SEAI
Research	Innovation Partnership Program	Enterprise Ireland
Project	Interreg B (Transnational Cooperation)	EU – ERDF
Community	LEADER Programme	DRCD
Project	Life Programme	EU
Business	Lighting Support Scheme	SEAI
Community	Local Authority Swimming Pool Program (LASPP)	DTTAS
Home	ProEnergy Homes Scheme	Various Credit Unions
Business	Project Assistance Grant	SEAI
Community	Rural Economic Development Zone (REDZ)	DRCD
Community	Rural Regeneration Fund	DRCD
Project	Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH)	SEAI
Community	Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) Grant	SEAI
Agriculture	TAMS II – Dairy Equipment Scheme	DAFM
Agriculture	TAMS II – Organic Capital Investment Scheme	DAFM
Agriculture	TAMS II – Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme	DAFM
Agriculture	TAMS II – Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme	DAFM
Community	Tidy Towns	DRCD, SuperValu
Community	Town and Village Renewal Scheme	DRCD
Community	Urban Regeneration Fund	DRCD
Legend:
Project – Infrastructure, facilities
General – Infrastructure, Research
Research – Feasibility studies, innovation and development
EV – Electric Vehicles