ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • 65 Industry News Goverment announces enhanced grants to help households and businesses reduce energy costs and move away from fossil fuels New €2,000 boiler scrappage scheme, a battery grant and enhanced supports for households at risk of energy poverty among measures approved by Government. The Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien TD, has recently announced a package of enhanced renewable energy and retrofit grants designed to help households and businesses reduce energy costs, lower dependence on fossil fuels and strengthen Ireland’s energy security. The package, developed through the work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT), includes a range of improvements to the schemes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) that will make it easier and more affordable for households and businesses to improve energy efficiency, install renewable energy technologies, and switch to cleaner heating systems. Key measures include (effective from 6 October 2026) 1. Solar PV and battery will be offered as standard under fully funded Warmer Homes Scheme. 2. More generous grants for solar, attic and cavity insulation for certain Department of Social Protection recipients and homes in HAP, RAS, and RASP tenancies. 3. More favourable eligibility criteria for solar PV and solar thermal. 4. Fossil fuel boiler scrappage support of €2,000 (effective immediately for eligible applicants). 5. Enhanced supports for businesses that will save thousands in energy costs. These measures are expected to deliver meaningful and longlasting reductions in energy costs for households and businesses. Depending on the measure installed and the characteristics of the property, households could benefit from savings of up to €878 per year. These grants are on top of the range of existing supports for energy upgrades including insulation, window and door replacements and heat pumps which when installed as part of whole home upgrade can save homeowners up to €1,120 per year. Businesses availing of enhanced solar PV supports could reduce annual energy costs by up to €300,000 per annum, with significant energy savings also possible with enhanced solar thermal and heat pump grants. Minister O'Brien said; Many households and businesses continue to face real pressure from high energy costs. Recent developments in international energy markets have once again highlighted the importance of reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels and strengthening our energy security. The Government has already introduced more than €1.4 billion in energy affordability measures since March. The measures announced today build on that response by making it easier and more affordable for households and businesses to reduce their energy bills through energy efficiency, renewable energy and cleaner heating technologies. A particular focus of this package is ensuring that households most exposed to high energy costs can benefit from the energy transition. Enhanced supports for households at risk of energy poverty, medically vulnerable customers, lowerincome homeowners and renters will help ensure that those who need support most can access the benefits of lower energy bills. This package also substantially boosts support for solar installations for business, as well as other energy efficiency measures. These measures, developed through the work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce, form part of the Government’s broader efforts to improve energy affordability, strengthen energy security and support the transition to a cleaner energy future. Further measures will be considered as part of Budget 2027, while the forthcoming Energy Affordability Action Plan, to be published next month, will set out a roadmap for improving energy affordability for households and businesses". All of the measures recently announced will open from 6 October 2026, subject to final implementation arrangements. In relation to the boiler scrappage scheme, all eligible homeowners with a heat pump application already in progress will receive an additional boiler scrappage grant of €2,000. The uplift will be added automatically for eligible homeowners. Full terms and conditions, and details in relation to eligibility, will be available in due course. www.seai.ie
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy Mzk5MjA=