Energy efficiency measure (Better Energy Communities 2021)

Communities Energy Grant Call

Better Energy Communities 2021 is a comprehensive scheme that finances projects through subsidies in Irish Communities. All projects should deliver energy savings to communities (public, buildings, homes and businesses). Applied projects should be community oriented, have a cross-sectoral approach and validate that the project can be sustainably funded. In order for the project to be qualified for support, it should clearly demonstrate its benefits to the community, ensure community engagement, and knowledge transfer (community partnership dimension of the evaluation criteria of the scheme). Other dimensions of each project such as the value for money, i.e, the contribution to the Irish economy, the quality and delivery of the project and innovation are assessed.

The maximum grant is capped at EUR 2 million. 50% of the project cost will be supported (ch.1.4 Communities Energy Grant Call). Different support levels are defined for different components of a project. Typically, the maximum level of support in the domestic sector varies between 50% (housing association homes) to 80% (private energy poor) and in the non-domestic sector 30% (ch.1.8 Communities Energy Grant Call).

Collaboration between different organisations (public and private sectors, residential and non-residential sectors, commercial and not-for-profit organisations, financing entities and energy suppliers) (ch.1.3 Communities Energy Grant Call).

Interested applicants apply to SEAI for funding. SEAI examines the offer and issues a letter of offer. An applicant must outline their 20%, 50% and 70% delivery milestone dates. According the completion of the milestones at each stage the respective amount of grant is paid to the applicant (ch.5-6 Communities Energy Grant Call).

SEAI