SEAI Grants Available

SEAI grants are grants offered in a nation-wide scheme by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The reason behind SEAI grants is to promote the use of sustainable energy in households and industries in order to reduce conventional energy expenditure. There are two types of SEAI grants available at the moment. First one, named as Better Energy Homes (BEH) Scheme accounts for the improved energy efficiency. The second one, named as Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) accounts for the measures taken by vulnerable households that are already receiving National Fuel Allowances.

The Better Energy Homes Scheme is a Government scheme which provides grants to homeowners to improve energy efficiency such as insulating walls or attics and installing new heating systems. Landlords and owners of more than one property can also apply for a grant under the scheme. All grants are administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Since the scheme was launched in 2009 more than 165,000 homes have undertaken energy efficiency upgrades with a total Government investment of €172m.

Under the revised scheme, a family in a semi-detached house could benefit from a grant payment of up to €4700 for external wall insulation, a boiler and heating control upgrade, and cavity and attic insulation. A couple in an apartment could receive €3400 towards internal wall insulation, a boiler and heating control upgrade and the installation of solar thermal heating. These efficiency improvements allow people to live in warmer, more comfortable homes while lowering their energy bills. For the country as a whole, they replace our dependence on imported fossil fuels with domestic jobs in the construction sector and help to meet our ambitious climate goals.

A solar panel grant is available to all solar systems installed in the Republic of Ireland. Solar panels convert the sun’s energy to electricity, which is then used in your home like electricity from any other source. It can supply up to 40% of the typical energy consumption of the average household, this means a smaller electricity bill. For the planet, it means that less fossil fuel is being burned to power generators.

The other type of solar panel is the solar water heating panel. This uses the warmth of the sun directly to heat our domestic water supply. Heating water for baths, laundry and washing dishes is one of the biggest components of the average domestic electricity or gas bill. This cost can be cut sometimes almost completely once a solar water heating panel has been installed. Solar panel grants are available through the Affordable Warmth scheme which aims to reduce power bills and do our bit to cut down on fossil fuels. The scheme targets beneficiaries and those at the lowest income level, means that they can afford the improvements that will reduce their power bills.