Minister Darragh O’Brien officially launches the Business Energy Upgrades Scheme
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From: Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
- Published on: 14 April 2025
- Last updated on: 15 April 2025
- surge in uptake of new and enhanced Government Business Supports helping Irish Business reduce energy costs and emissions from their businesses
- dramatic increase in uptake of business supports and grant funding in recent years as business embrace the benefit of energy upgrades
- the Irish government has approved over €150 million of grant support to over 7,500 businesses in the last three years
- Department through SEAI has introduced new Rapid Approval Grants for a range of impactful energy upgrade measures which provides immediate approval to enable quick delivery of investments
Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy Darragh O'Brien officially launched the Business Energy Upgrades Scheme at Roganstown Hotel and Country Club.
The scheme complements the Support Scheme for Energy Audits (SSEA) and the Non-Domestic Microgeneration Grant and significantly expands the range of Rapid Approval Grants targeted at small and medium businesses to enable them to carry out energy and emission saving investments. This scheme offers support for a high-quality energy audit and a range of common building upgrade measures including, pumps, solar thermal, solar PV, automatic controls, heat pumps, air handling units and fabric. In addition, support is offered to optimise existing building management systems, and for retrofit design activities.
These schemes will provide substantial support to the SME sector to address energy costs and reduce emissions in their buildings. The schemes are open to all businesses, and public bodies, who are upgrading a building they own or occupy. The upgrading of commercial buildings with these measures will contribute to reduced operational energy costs, improved comfort, and will enhance a company’s brand. They will also be doing their part for Ireland to reach its ambitious Climate Action Plan targets.
In addition, to support larger investments and investments in biomass heating the government also through the SEAI offer grant funding from a range of Tailored Support Grants including the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat and the EXEED Grant Scheme.
Minister O'Brien visited Roganstown Hotel and Country Club to view some of the highly impactful energy saving measures employed by this leading sustainable business. The hotel has installed a sustainable biomass heating system and a rooftop solar PV system, together saving the business over €100,000 in energy costs each year along with a significant reduction in emissions. Roganstown benefitted from a significant grant for their solar PV system and 15 years of biomass support tariffs from the department, implemented by SEAI, to make these investments viable for the hotel. They have also further work in progress supported by SEAI Rapid Approval grants. In addition to these impactful measures for the building’s energy use the hotel has planted 65,000 trees over the last two decades and uses electric robotic lawnmowers reducing diesel consumption.
Minister O'Brien said:
"My department, in collaboration with SEAI, has significantly enhanced business supports by introducing a range of Rapid Approval grants that can be approved instantly. This enables businesses to quickly and efficiently access government support, driving impactful investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Sustainability is not just good for the environment – it also makes strong business sense, as demonstrated by Roganstown Hotel. I commend them for their leadership in managing energy costs and reducing emissions."
Minister of State with responsibility for Small Business, Retail and Circular Economy Alan Dillon said:
"Every day I see and hear the value of schemes such as this both to businesses and the environment directly from businesses themselves. The fact that these grants can now be accessed so quickly can only be a huge positive and I look forward to seeing more businesses coming on board in the very near future."
CEO of Roganstown Hotel and Country Club, Ian McGuinness said:
"We are committed to sustainability at Roganstown and the investments we have made are benefitting us enormously. Thanks to the SEAI our sustainable biomass boiler has paid for itself already after three years, and our solar panels will pay for themselves in five years. We have further work ongoing supported by the new Business Energy Upgrades Scheme. There’s some work involved in identifying the best investments for your business, but the benefits are significant. Many of these investments are no-brainers for hotels like us and we’d strongly recommend engaging and starting the process for other businesses."
Speaking about the launch of the Business Energy Upgrades Scheme, SEAI CEO, William Walsh, said:
"My business supports team have been laser focussed on developing supports that SMEs can access quickly and hassle free. SEAI’s Rapid Approval grants give instant approval for a range of energy upgrades that will save businesses money, and save on emissions. We have helped thousands of businesses take these easy wins in recent years, including Roganstown Hotel and Country Club, and I would strongly encourage others to do so and capture the benefits for their business. Sustainability is good for business, and SEAI are here to help every step of the way."
To learn more about the Business Energy Upgrades Scheme, please visit the SEAI’s website.
Notes
SEAI Business Supports at a glance
| Understand | Assess | Invest |
| Get to know how you use energy and create an action plan | Complete your energy audit or retrofit design to identify actions | Invest in energy efficiency measures and renewables |
| Energy Academy Introduction to Energy Management Guides, Case Studies and Briefings | Energy Audit Voucher Design Assistance BMS Optimisation | SEAI Business Grants (details below) |
SEAI Business Grants at a glance
| Rapid approval | Tailored support |
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Building upgrades and renewables: Solar PV Solar Thermal Heat Pump Insulation (Wall and Roof) Pumps Automatic Controls Ventilation / Heat Recovery Energy Audit BMS Optimisation Design Assistance |
Building upgrades and industry decarbonisation: Bespoke evaluation 30-40% grant aid Wide range of measures supported |
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.
SEAI is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications.