Government supported nearly 54,000 home energy upgrades through SEAI in 2024
- Published on: 24 June 2025
- Last updated on: 25 June 2025
- 186,000 homes have benefited from more than €1.2 billion in government funded home energy upgrade supports since 2019
- 13% increase in number of home energy upgrades in 2024 compared to 2023 showing continued momentum in home retrofitting
The government supported 53,984 home energy upgrades via the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in 2024. This exceeded the 2024 target of 52,200 properties and represents an increase of 13% on the number of upgrades for the same period for the previous year.
Briefing cabinet today on national retrofitting progress, Minister O'Brien shared the SEAI 2024 Full Year Retrofit Report that shows continued momentum in home energy upgrades.
As of the end of 2024, the government had invested €1.2 billion in energy upgrades across 186,000 homes and 156 community energy projects, with one third of the expenditure in 2024. Half of all this expenditure, €600 million, was on upgrades to homes in energy poverty. These upgrade works leveraged a further €1.1 billion in private investment and have led to new annual carbon dioxide abatement of more than 310kT CO2 per annum.
Government expenditure across all schemes reached €416.7 million in 2024, up 30% year on year. Of the homes upgraded, 7,700 were in energy poor households which received totally free energy upgrades.
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O'Brien, said:
"This report shows continued steady progress and delivery across SEAI home energy upgrade schemes. It’s particularly positive to see that there was a 31% increase in the delivery of upgrades for energy poverty households, with over 7,700 completed in 2024 – this works out at an average of 150 upgrades every week last year. Home energy upgrades have the ability to transform people’s lives through living in warmer, healthier homes, as well as the added benefit of living in a home that has a lower carbon footprint and lower running costs. This report comes as we mark another milestone – the fact over €1.2 billion in government funded home energy upgrades have been delivered to Irish households since 2019. While a lot of progress has been made in the area of retrofits, we know we have to continue to build on and accelerate the level of upgrades taking place. This is a key focus for us as a new government to ensure we can meet our climate commitments and that citizens continue to reap the benefits of living in more efficient, comfortable and climate friendly homes."
Mr William Walsh, CEO of SEAI said:
"We are pleased that 2024 saw a strong increase in home energy upgrade completions. Retrofitting homes plays a key role in helping us to achieve our climate action targets, and it's positive to see that momentum and demand from homeowners continues to build year on year.
"If we are to meet Ireland's Climate Action Plan target of 500,0000 B2 home energy upgrades, together we need to deliver on average 75,000 B2-equivalent home upgrades each year from 2026 to 2030 across the system. It's vitally important that pace and engagement continue to support the realisation of Ireland's energy transition. In 2025 we will continue to focus on educating and motivating homeowners on the benefits of home energy upgrades, such as lower energy bills, better BERs, as well as the wide range of grants and supports available for homeowners to make the switch to heat pumps. These include the low interest loans now available through numerous financial institutions."
The headline deliverables in 2024, across all home energy upgrade schemes administered by SEAI were:
- upgraded almost 54,000 properties (up 13% year on year)
- completed 21,800 BER B2 upgrades (up 24% year on year)
- delivered 7,700 upgrades for energy poverty qualifying households (up 31% year on year)
- installed 3,600 heat pumps, bringing the total for 2019-2024 to 14,194
- secured 545 Approved Housing Body upgrades supported under the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (one stop shop service), and 224 under the Community Energy Grants scheme
The residential upgrades in 2024 have led to 146 GWh in energy savings and total of 68kt in CO2 savings. Last year was also another strong year for the Solar PV Scheme, with 28% growth in installed solar PV systems (160 MW installed Solar PV capacity).
You can download the SEAI Retrofit Full Year Report for 2024 from the SEAI website.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor
About SEAI
SEAI is the expert authority on decarbonising Ireland's energy system, using robust, objective data and an evidence-based approach to help inform policy development and energy user behaviours. SEAI empowers households, businesses, motorists, and the public sector to move away from fossil fuels with practical advice and financial supports. We encourage positive changes in how Ireland uses energy to deliver a more prosperous, energy efficient and cleaner environment.
SEAI is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment.
For more information, go to the SEAI website.