Everything you need to know about applying for Communities Energy Grant

What is Communities Energy Grant (BEC)?

3cea team has been successful in securing energy grant funding for communities and businesses across all sectors. Over the past 5 years 3cea has assisted in the delivery of cumulative energy savings of more than €19.6 million through the Communities Energy Grant (BEC) initiative.

Better Energy Communities is a national retrofit initiative managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). BEC offers a win-win grant aid solution for parish halls, GAA clubs, farmers, charitable organisations, community groups, public authorities, individuals and businesses to both lower their energy bills while reducing energy usage.

How can 3cea help?

From initial application to final grant sign-off, we can project manage the entire process for you, this is why we encourage you to get in contact now to discuss your project in more detail.

3cea has extensive, award-winning experience and expertise in supporting applicants through the BEC pipeline, we act as your project-coordinator and energy advisor throughout the entire process. Our Team has achieved success through combining specific technical expertise and local community knowledge on hundreds of energy efficiency projects of scale since 2002.

Funding & Supports Available

Up to 50% funding for community projects, sports halls, community halls, community centers etc
Up to 30% funding for private businesses, large industry and commercial buildings, private companies

Successful BEC projects must demonstrate

A cohesive project team – identify and appoint an appropriate person in charge
Community benefits
Mix of sustainable solutions and justified energy savings
Innovation and project ambition
An ability to finance the project

Energy Efficiency upgrades supported by Communities Energy Grant

Building Fabric Upgrades such as wall insulation, energy-smart walls and doors etc
Technological improvements such as boiler replacement or controls upgrades
Energy Efficient Lighting
Renewable energy solutions like wind turbines, biomass and solar PV systems
Domestic Combined Fabric Upgrades
Heat Recovery solutions
And more

Important deadlines

Administered by SEAI, there are strict deadlines which applicants must meet. Further updates as they happen.

Based on 2020 dates, these are the expected deadlines (subject to change):

November 2020: Opening of online Application Process
December 2020: Deadline for receipt of Applications
TBC: Expected Notification of successful projects
October 2021: Project completion deadline

Sample projects

Among the farm industries we helped O’Shea Farms in Kilkenny achieve saving of €38,000 per annum on energy cost since 2015. PV panels keep their vegetables cool in the summer and warm in winter. J&M Dairies in Tipperary installed a PV solar system and battery storage unit and is now saving over €1,300 each year on its energy bills.

We also helped Bagenalstown Outdoor Swimming Pool in Carlow cut its energy bills by €850 per annum.

In Wexford, we helped the St Vincent De Paul charity shop achieve significant savings on its energy bills in Enniscorthy.

We helped O’Brien Cement in Belview Port in County Kilkenny of over €50,000 a year by investing in a new burner which reduces the former three stage cement-manufacturing process into one and removed one full time Loading Shovel and its fuel from the process.

We worked with SOS Kilkenny to cut over €3,300 off its heating and lighting bills through a series of upgrades.

A full list of Better Energy Communities projects we have worked on is available here.