Environment Minister Eamon Ryan announced funding of €57 million to support the projects under the Community Energy Grant Scheme.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is administering grants for projects supporting the delivery of 2,105 homes and 536 non-domestic projects. Recipients include public sector projects, sports facilities, community buildings and businesses. This substantial government investment supports projects that will achieve energy savings which will amount to €156 million, or 25,000 MWh, each year.
Announcing the investment yesterday, Thursday 30 September, Minister Ryan said: "The Government's Climate Action Plan recognises the central role of communities in achieving our climate action ambitions. This investment will deliver energy upgrades to over 2,000 homes and community and commercial buildings throughout the country. The successful communities will benefit from warmer and healthier buildings, lower energy bills, and reduced harmful CO2 emissions. The projects will also deliver significant employment benefits locally and nationally."
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Dr. Ciaran Byrne, Director of National Retrofit at SEAI, added: "SEAI is working with hundreds of energy communities across the country, providing them with the knowledge and the means to plan their own ambitious low-carbon pathway. Government-funded grants are a key support for these communities, which are ready to invest in sustainable energy solutions to meet their needs. The achievements of these communities can be replicated, drawing more citizens into Ireland's clean energy transition."
Under the Community Energy Grant Scheme, communities bring together groups of buildings under the same retrofit programme to facilitate community-wide energy improvements – more efficiently and more cost effectively than might otherwise be possible. All projects applying for funding are required to include a community benefit to the project and to include a cross-sectoral approach.
Under the programme, funding is provided for a range of improvements to existing buildings to drive energy efficiency and facilitate the installation of renewable technologies. These include the installation of insulation, heat pump systems, replacement windows/doors, solar PV (Photo-Voltaic) technology, energy-efficient lighting, and energy monitors, as well as a host of other energy upgrades.
