SEI Grants
Domestic / Residential Sector
The Irish Government wishes to encourage people to “green” their homes by contributing to the initial investment cost of installing a renewable energy heating system. The Greener Homes Scheme (Phase 2) provides grant assistance to homeowners who intend to purchase a new renewable energy heating system for either a new or existing home.
The Scheme is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and its objective is to increase the use of renewable energy and sustainable energy technologies in Irish homes. The Government believes that this will help ensure a faster uptake of renewable heating systems which will underpin the development of a long term market, while enabling homeowners to play their part in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
The Greener Homes Scheme is open to the following applicants:
- Individuals building their new home and intending to install a renewable energy heating system
- Individuals intending to retrofit or install a new renewable energy heating system in their existing home.
What Products are Eligible?
The grants will be provided to homeowners who invest in new renewable energy based heating systems in the categories listed below. In order to be eligible for a grant, the product must be approved and registered with the SEI. Each Grant Application submitted must include the SEI Product ID found on the Registered Products list. The SEI Registered Product List is available online in our downloads section.
Similarly, grant applicants must use Installers who have registered with SEI, and the Installer must be registered at the time of application and at time of system commissioning. Each Grant Application submitted must include the Installer ID found on the Registered List of Installers, which is available on request or online in our downloads section.
Certain suppliers such as Enerfina will manage the Grant application for their customers from start to finish, thus ensuring that the details are completed correctly and there is no risk of delay in the process.
The following table outlines both the product categories which are eligible for a grant within the framework of the Greener Homes Scheme, as well as the grant amount available, depending on the selected technology. It is worth noting that under the Greener Homes Scheme (Phase 2), only one grant will be provided per dwelling, and where a dwelling already had an installation funded under Phase I of the Scheme, that dwelling will not be eligible for further grant aid.
| Wood Chip / Pellet Boiler | Phase II (from Oct 1) |
|---|---|
| Wood Chip or Pellet Boiler | €3,000 |
| Wood Chip / Pellet Stove | Phase II (from Oct 1) |
| Wood Chip or Pellet Stove | €1,100 |
| Wood Chip or Pellet Stove with Integral Boiler | €1,800 |
| Heat Pump | Phase II (from Oct 1) |
| Heat Pump - Horizontal Ground Collector | €2,500 |
| Heat Pump - Vertical Ground Collector | €3,500 |
| Heat Pump - Water (well) to Water | €2,500 |
| Heat Pump - Air Source | €2,000 |
| Solar Panels | Phase II (from Oct 1) |
| Solar - Flat Plate | €250 per m2 (max. 6 m2) |
| Solar - Evacuated Tube | €300 per m2 (max. 6 m2) |
Additional Considerations
- For customers who wish to apply for a grant for a Wood Pellet / Chip Boiler (€3,000), the SEI requires that customers should be able to store a minimum of 3 tonnes of wood pellets (80% of a typical house’s requirements for one year)
- Customers should bear in mind that Grant applications must be submitted BEFORE the renewable energy system is purchased. Grant payment will be made directly to the customer by the SEI once the Installation and Commissioning of the system is complete and payment for the system has been made in full.
Commercial / Industrial / Public / Community Sector
Launched in March 2007, the Renewable Heat (ReHeat) Deployment Programme provides assistance for the deployment of renewable heating systems in industrial, commercial, public and community premises in Ireland. The programme is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) and is an expansion of the previous Bioheat Boiler Deployment Programme which supported Wood Chip or Wood Pellet boilers only.
The Renewable Heat Deployment Programme aims to:
- Increase the deployment of renewable heating systems in commercial, industrial, public and community premises
- Achieve carbon emission savings and fossil fuel displacement
- Increase customer awareness and confidence in heating from renewable sources.
Financial support will be provided to assist new renewable energy based heating systems in the following categories:
- Wood Chip or Pellet Boilers
- Solar Hot Water Heating Systems
- Heat Pumps
- Ground Source (Horizontal collector)
- Ground Source (Vertical collector – Borehole)
- Water Source (Well)
- Air Source.
Under the ReHeat Programme, support of up to 30% of eligible costs is available for Capital Investment projects and support of up to 40% of eligible costs is available for Feasibility Study projects.
