Public Consultation on the redesign of Ireland’s Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme

The European Commission’s Clean Energy Package, launched in November 2016, sets out the Commission’s vision for energy efficiency, stating that energy efficiency should be the "first principle" of any future energy policies. One of the core components of the Clean Energy Package is a revised Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), which was published in 2018. Under Article 7 of the EED, Ireland is required to make a defined amount of energy savings that meet specific criteria by 2030.

Following a public consultation in October 2019, we decided that Ireland should use an obligation scheme between 2021 and 2030 to achieve a portion of the energy savings required under Article 7. The new Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS) will build on the obligation scheme that has been in place since 2014, and will contribute significantly to the delivery of Ireland’s energy saving target under the revised EU Energy Efficiency Directive. The newly designed scheme will also support the delivery of Ireland’s broader climate ambition.

We want to consult with interested parties on the design of the new EEOS, which will be in operation from the start of 2022. The proposals within the consultation relate to the following areas:

• Who will be obligated to achieve energy savings under the scheme, and how they will be obligated
• The overall target of the energy efficiency obligation scheme
• The delivery sub-targets within the scheme
• The delivery requirements of the scheme
• The nature of the targets for the obligation period and how compliance should be supported and managed
• Scheme improvements and cost information
• Information on bills

The closing date for submissions was 5.30pm 19 April 2021

The closing date has been extended to 5.30pm 30 April 2021

Anyone wishing to make a submission should complete the online survey.

If you cannot access the survey for any reason please contact the team by email at energy.efficiency@decc.gov.ie

We held an online event on Wednesday 31 March 2021 outlining the consultation proposals. This event featured representatives from DECC, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and Economic Consulting Associates Ltd (ECA) and provided clarifications on points raised by potential respondents to the consultation and an overview of some of the underpinning analysis.

A follow up session was held on Wednesday 21 April 2021 for those who could potentially be obligated under the scheme. This provided a further opportunity to seek clarifications on the proposals provided in the consultation document.

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. All submissions and feedback will be considered before the final version of the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS) is published.

Please note that responses to this consultation are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI), Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2014 (AIE) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Please also note that the Department intends to publish the contents of all submissions received to this consultation on its website. The Department will redact personal data prior to publication. In responding to this consultation, parties should clearly indicate where their responses contain personal information, commercially sensitive information or confidential information which they would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published.

We would like to draw your attention to the Department's Data Privacy Notice which is available on our website and explains how and when we collect personal data, why we do so and how we treat this information. It also explains your rights in relation to the collection of personal information and how you can exercise those rights.

This document summarises the main points raised by respondents as part of the consultation process and sets out the Minister’s response and decision in relation to each consultation question.

SEAI, as EEOS Administrator, will shortly be hosting a number of focused workshops on the implementation of the new EEOS delivery requirements.

The sessions will be focused on relevant items relating to:

• the implementation of the delivery requirements set out in the consultation response document, and also
• eligible saving requirements relating to Annex V

If you wish to be notified about relevant sessions, please send your expression of interest with the subject of 'EEOS Workshops Expression of Interest' to: eeos@seai.ie

Industry Submissions

Group/Organisation Submissions

Individual Submissions