Reducing energy use will be a big part of Ireland’s efforts to decarbonise its economy. As Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD stated “The enterprise sector accounts for 13% of Ireland’s emissions. …How a business uses and sometimes wastes energy is one of the main things it can change to bring down its emissions.”
Starting off on the journey to reducing your energy use and emissions can be a bit daunting. There are lots of straightforward actions that will start saving you money straight away. Whatever the size of your business, the first steps to decarbonising are the same:
- Understand your energy use and related emissions;
- Educate yourself on the early steps that you can take;
- And take action, no matter how small.
According to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) businesses typically can save 10% by embedding energy-management practices in their business through no-cost or low-cost measures. Through proactive energy efficiency practices and transition to renewable energy, businesses can save up to 30% of these costs.
To help businesses do this, SEAI have:
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The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS)
The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) was introduced in 2022 to support businesses with increases in their electricity or natural gas (energy) costs. Your business can make a claim under the scheme if it:
- is tax compliant
- carries on a Case I trade or Case II profession. This includes charities and approved sporting bodies that carry on certain activities
- has experienced a significant increase of 50% or more in its electricity and/or natural gas average unit price.
Qualifying businesses can claim for 40% of the increases in their energy bills. The increase in energy bills must be between the ‘claim period’ and the ‘reference period’.
Further information on the scheme is contained in the TBESS guidelines.
Energy Contracting Support Scheme
The Energy Contracting Support Scheme from SEAI provides financial assistance to help businesses and public sector organisations to deliver energy efficiency and decarbonisation projects through Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs), Local Energy Supply Contracts (LESCs) and Energy Performance Guarantees (EPGs).
Successful applicants receive up to 75% funding of eligible costs, subject to a maximum limit of:
- €50,000 for Energy Performance Contracts (EPC) / Local Energy Supply Contracts (LESC)
- €25,000 for Energy Performance Guarantees (EPGs)
Further information can be found
here.
Project-assistance grants
Businesses and public sector bodies that are developing energy-saving projects and building good procurement practices can also avail of grants from the SEAI of up to €37,500.
Project-assistance grants are available for two specific types of project
- Feasibility study and Project Energy Audit
Up to 50% funding to a maximum of €15,000
- Final business case and project delivery support grant
Up to 75% funding to a maximum of €15,000 where basic energy performance arrangements are considered and up to €37,500 where energy performance contracting (EPC) is considered
Early expert advice is provided at the project concept stage, and tailored advice is offered to, among others, those involved in SEAI programmes. Find out more here.
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Upgrading a heating system
The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) is a government-funded initiative run by the SEAI. It was set up to increase the level of renewable energy in the heat sector. Under the scheme businesses can avail of funding for their transition to renewable heat sources.
The scheme is open to commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating, public sector and other non-domestic heat users, and is particularly worth considering if your business has high heating costs, for example businesses in the hospitality or agri-food sectors.
Grants are available for either installation (up to 30% of grant for heat pumps) and for on-going operational support (a tariff payment for a period of up to 15 years for heat from biomass and biogas boilers/combined heat and power units (CHP)).
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Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme
Under the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme energy suppliers (‘obligated parties’) have to offer supports to make businesses more energy efficient. This applies to all energy types - not just renewable energy – and includes electricity, gas, and solid fuel.
If you are undergoing any of the measures identified in the list of eligible projects on SEAI’s website (e.g. upgrading lighting, ventilation and air conditioning, transport, heating), the obligated party will calculate the energy credits and provide you with both technical and financial support.
Technical support may include providing a certified energy practitioner to carry out energy audits, implementing energy-management systems, identifying energy-efficiency opportunities and measuring and verifying savings once opportunities have been realised.
Financial support can range from:
- providing a direct monetary contribution towards a project
- facilitating low-interest loans
- ·negotiating discounts on materials (e.g. lighting supplies, high-efficiency pumps, and motors)
- providing reduced energy prices or tariffs.
Find out more here.
Non-Domestic Microgen Grant (NDMG)
The Non-Domestic Microgen Grant (NDMG) provides financial assistance to help businesses and other sectors to install solar PV panels to generate electricity on site. This technology reduces commercial electricity costs and increases security of supply, while enhancing a positive sustainability image. Grants are available for systems up to a maximum 6kWp * (Approx. 16 Panels or 25m²) with potential savings of between €2,000 - €3000 annual electrical costs (depending on installation size and current utility rates).
Find out more here.
EXEED Certified Grant Scheme
SEAI provides grant funding to businesses planning a large energy efficient investment in an asset. EXEED stands for excellence in Energy Efficiency Design, and is a standardised methodology for energy efficient design management. The methodology sets out a clear process to help organisations design to optimize their energy performance. It looks at all energy users within an asset and analyses them to identify the best opportunities specific to the asset.
Businesses benefit by reducing their energy bills and C02 missions, optimising their assets’ energy performance, improving competitiveness, and enhancing their reputation – assets certified under the programme receive a plaque to demonstrate that the asset complies with the standard.
Projects funded include new buildings and designs, such as a new facility or a new process, but also extensions to, or renovation of, existing buildings; energy upgrades of existing buildings; and investments in existing processes.
Small companies can get grants of up to 70% for professional services and up to 50% on costs associated with achieving EXEED certification (see Figure 2)
Any sector, organisation and project can apply to the scheme, but to qualify for grant support, projects must follow the EXEED energy efficient design process, have an impact, align with national climate goals and represent good value for money.
€14 million was made available in 2021 for projects, with grant support of up to €1 million per project. Similar and higher levels of funding is expected to be available over the coming years.
You can find out more about the EXEED Certified Program here.
Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme
The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) has launched an Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme (EELS), a low-cost scheme designed to help SMEs, farmers and fishers cut their energy bills, reduce their carbon emissions and improve their sustainability by investing in energy-saving equipment. It aims to support qualifying viable Irish businesses and primary producers (farmers/fishers) by providing access to affordable long-term finance, enabling them to invest in the energy efficiency of their enterprise. More details are available
here.
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