SEAI pays record €616m in grants for energy upgrades and projects in 2024
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has said it disbursed a record €616 million in grants and supports for energy upgrades and clean energy projects last year.
This represented a 13% increase in activity by the national energy authority in 2024.
Two thirds of the funding, or €420 million, was allocated to 54,000 home energy upgrades.
These included upgrades for more than 7,700 homes deemed to be in energy poverty.
The figures suggest the average SEAI grant per home energy upgrade projects was €7,800.
Only one out every 15 upgrade projects however, included a heat pump. There was a total of 3,609 heat pump grants paid out by the SEAI in 2024.
Almost 22,000, or 40% of the total 54,000 home upgrades, achieved a B2 energy rating or higher.
The SEAI’s low interest Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme was also launched last year.
Meanwhile, just under 8.5%, or €52 million of SEAI spending supported the electrification of Ireland’s private car fleet.
This included grants for 12,000 new electric vehicles and 15,400 EV home chargers.
The annual review also highlights that more than 3,500 businesses received grant support for energy upgrades.
These included energy audit vouchers, training programmes, supports for renewable heat and microgeneration, as well as the newly launched Business Energy Upgrade Scheme.
The total cost of these business grants and supports came to €62 million. This was 10% of all SEAI investments during 2024.
In addition to all this, the SEAI awarded €22 million in energy research grants.
It also allocated €61 million to major public sector pathfinder building upgrade projects.
Record year
The overall figures mean 2024 was a record year for home energy upgrades.
SEAI Chief Executive William Walsh said: “It is hugely encouraging to see strong engagement with Ireland’s decarbonisation journey by householders and businesses, in communities and across the public sector. But collectively we can and must do more.
“As it stands, Ireland’s emissions will exceed targets in the first carbon budget, meaning we still need to rapidly increase the rate of change to deliver on these legally binding targets. Solutions are in our grasp if we have the collective appetite.
“The incoming government comes at a time where we require a re-doubling of effort to realise the urgent change needed to move away from fossil fuels. The challenge may seem daunting, but we must focus on the combined environmental, economic, social and health benefits to propel us forward,” he added.
Article Source – SEAI pays record €616m in grants for energy upgrades and projects in 2024 – RTE
