Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, has launched a €28 million fund for community energy projects across Ireland. The Community Energy Grant Scheme is funded under the National Retrofit Programme and is now open for applications. It offers grant support for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects throughout the country. The Scheme supports substantial investment in energy upgrades to homes, community and commercial buildings. This includes rented properties, businesses, sports and community facilities, public sector buildings and schools. The successful communities will have warmer and healthier buildings, lower energy bills and reduced harmful CO2 emissions. There are also significant employment and competitiveness benefits locally and nationally.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) are administering the new scheme, which is an enhanced version of the previous Better Energy Communities Scheme. This support follows on from previous supports to 430 community projects which are already generating €70 million in annual energy savings. Projects like the Collinstown Park School project linked renewable energy and environmental education to achieve its sustainability goals. They reduced their lighting costs by an incredible 90% and secured 50% funding for their project from SEAI. The Birches Azheimer centre in Dundalk also participated in the Communities scheme to obtain energy efficiency upgrades to keep dementia patients warmer, especially during the winter. Energy upgrades included attic, roof and cavity wall insulation. They also installed an air-to-water heat pump system, and a solar PV system.

This new scheme has a larger budget, will accommodate larger project and now offers enhanced support for upgrade of rented properties. Applicants will also benefit from a shorter evaluation time and a significantly longer time in which to carry out the projects.