Government announces €28 million for sustainable community projects

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) announces the plan to allocate €28m of new grants for community energy projects, allowing successful communities to benefit from warmer and healthier buildings, lower energy bills, and reduced harmful CO2 emissions.

The grants will support projects with a total investment value of almost €74 million, as well as delivering significant employment benefits locally and nationally.

Grants on offer in the community include €4.3 million specifically for projects delivering aggregated home retrofit upgrades.

Eamon Ryan, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment,  said: “We are supporting people to improve their homes and buildings so they will be more comfortable and waste less energy. We are expanding retrofit work, creating new green sustainable jobs in communities across Ireland and helping to grow companies. We are also cutting emissions thereby delivering a better environment for all of us.

“I intend to use funding from the recently-announced July stimulus package to expand the Communities scheme so we can further grow the retrofit sector and benefit many more people in the months and years ahead.”

William Walsh, CEO of SEAI said: “The SEAI is working with hundreds of energy communities across the country, providing them with the knowledge and the means to plan their own ambitious low-carbon pathway.

“Government-funded grants are a key support for communities ready to invest in sustainable energy solutions to meet their needs. The achievements of these communities can be replicated, drawing more citizens into Ireland’s clean energy transition.”