SEAI Home Energy Grants & Energy Awareness

There are a number of different ways to help make your home warmer and be more energy efficient. Approximately 25% of our energy use is in our homes, so finding ways to reduce energy use without compromising our daily lives and making homes more energy efficient with electricity and heating use are vitally important to save energy and reduce your energy bills. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) provides information on the many different ways to make your home more energy efficient and comfortable while also reducing your energy consumption and energy bills.

Further information about ways to reduce your heating and electricity use at home can be found here: Save Energy At Home | Heating - Hot Water - Electricity | SEAI

Home energy upgrades can transform the comfort levels of your home and reduce your energy bills. Improving your home's insulation is a key step in making it more comfortable and energy efficient, reduce heat loss, reduce your heating bills and will support to reduce your dependency on fossil fuels for home heating. Installing renewables systems such as heat pumps and solar energy systems for electricity or hot water will also increase the comfort levels of your home and make it cheaper to run.

Further information about home energy upgrades to increase your home's energy efficiency can be found here: Guide To Home Energy Upgrades | Home Energy | SEAI

You may be eligible for home energy upgrade grants to insulate your home, upgrade your home's heating system, install a heat pump or install a renewable energy system for electricity or hot water. The grants would typically be able to cover about one third of the cost of the works undertaken. The homeowner or occupier can check to see if their home is eligible for a home energy grant. A home must be built and occupied before 2011 to qualify for the insulation and heating control grants, and must be built and occupied before 2021 to qualify for the heat pumps and renewable energy system grants.

Further information on each of the various home energy grants available from the SEAI can be found in the hyperlinks below:

• Home Energy Upgrades Overview: Home Energy Upgrades | Home Energy | SEAI
• Individual Home Energy Upgrade Grants: Individual Energy Upgrade Grants | Home Energy Grants | SEAI
• Home Attic Insulation and Wall Insulation Grant: Insulation Grants For Cavity Wall Insulation & Attic Insulation | SEAI
• Heating Controls Grant: Smart Heating Controls Grant | Home Energy Grants | SEAI
• Heat Pump System Grant: Air Source Heat Pump System Grants | Home Energy Grants | SEAI
• Solar Water Heating Grant: Grant For Solar Water Heater | Home Energy Grants | SEAI
• Solar Electricity (PV) Grant: Solar Electricity PV Grants | Home Energy Grants | SEAI
• Payback Calculator for Domestic Solar PV: Solar Electricity Calculator (seai.ie)
• Building Energy Rating (BER) Overview: Building Energy Rating Certificate (BER)| Home Energy | SEAI
• Arranging a Home BER Assessment: Get a BER Assessment | Home Energy | SEAI
• Find a Registered Energy Professional: Find a Registered Professional | Grants | SEAI
• Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS) for Homes and Businesses: Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS) | Business Grants | SEAI

The table below lists out the grant values of all the individual home energy grants that are available through the SEAI. Each individual grant offers a fixed value.

A step-by-step overview of the application process for an Individual Home Energy Upgrade can be found here: Apply Now for an Individual Energy Grant | Home Energy Grants | SEAI

Electric Vehicle Grant (Privately bought EVs)

The SEAI provides a maximum grant of €3,500 for qualifying M1 (passenger car) category battery electric vehicles (BEVs) when purchased privately. An approved BEV with a full price of more than €60,000 or less than €14,000 will not qualify to receive a grant. The electric vehicle grant is only applicable to newly purchased vehicles, the grants cannot be claimed when purchasing a second-hand vehicle. The grant amount provided for an electric vehicle will depend on the list price of the vehicle, with the list price being the full non-discounted price in the absence of VRT relief or grant supports. The full price of the vehicle to the customer includes all optional extras, paint and delivery. It excludes any incentives such as grants or rebates. VRT relief is available to a maximum of €5,000 to purchasers of electric vehicles up to the selling price of €40,000, with a reduced scale for vehicles priced between €40,000 - €50,000. No VRT relief is available for EVs above €50,000.

A list of eligible BEVs in Ireland can be found here: Compare Electric Car Running Costs | Electric Vehicles | SEAI

Electric Vehicle Grant (Commercially bought EVs)

The SEAI currently provides grant supports towards the purchasing of new N1 (light commercial vehicle) category electric vehicles for business and public entities. An N1 category vehicle is typically a small goods carrying van with a permissible maximum mass of less than 3,500 kg. For the purpose of the grant, the SEAI will classify these as N1S vehicles. A maximum grant of €3,800 is available for qualifying N1 category battery electric vehicles (BEVs) when purchased commercially. An approved BEV with a full price of more than €60,000 or less than €14,000 will not qualify to receive a grant. The grant amount provided for an electric vehicle will depend on the list price of the vehicle, with the list price being the full non-discounted price in the absence of VRT relief or grant supports. The full price of the vehicle to the customer includes all optional extras, paint and delivery. It excludes any incentives such as grants or rebates. The electric vehicle grant is only applicable to newly purchased vehicles, the grants cannot be claimed when purchasing a second-hand vehicle.

More information about electric vehicles grants and supports for businesses can be found here: Electric Car Rebates & Grant Amounts | EV Grants | SEAI

Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant

The Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant is a government funded support scheme that assists residents and homeowners to install an electric vehicle charge point on their property. The scheme provides a grant up to the value of €300 towards the purchase and installation of a home charger unit. To receive the grant payment, you must ensure that you use a Safe Electric Registered Electrical Contractor to undertake the works.

This grant scheme is open to homeowners to apply for a grant regardless if they own an electric vehicle or not. Homes that were built and occupied before 2021 are eligible for the EV Home Charger grant. If an applicant has received approval for this grant scheme, they will have 8 months to complete the works and submit the declaration of works. It’s extremely important these timelines are adhered to ensure grant payment can be accessed. Failure to complete the works and submit the declaration of works after the 8 month period will see the grant expire and grant payment will be declined.

Further information on the electric vehicle grants and the home charger grants available from the SEAI can be found in the hyperlinks below:

• Electric Vehicle Grants Overview: Electric Vehicle Grants | SEAI
• Grant Eligible BEVs in Ireland: Compare Electric Car Running Costs | Electric Vehicles | SEAI
  
• Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant Overview: Electric Vehicle Home Charger Grant | SEAI
• Electric Vehicle Apartment Charger Grant Overview: Apartment Charging Grant | EV Grants | SEAI

Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme

The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme provides low-cost, flexible loans to help make your home more energy efficient. The purpose of this Loan Scheme is designed fofr individuals to carry out home energy upgrade works that are also grant-aided through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). A person can borrow from €5,000 to €75,000 for a term of up to 10 years. Loans are available through participating finance providers, including banks and some credit unions. The interest rates on the Home Energy Upgrade Loan will be significantly lower than those generally available in the market, but interest rates will differ among the finance providers. You must avail of an SEAI home energy upgrade grant and use a registered One Stop Shop, Energy Partner, or Community Project Coordinator to manage the upgrades. They will advise whether your planned works meet the requirements and they will manage the process from start to finish.

Information about eligibility criteria and the application process of the Loan Scheme can be found here: Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme (seai.ie)

Some of the Benefits and Key Features of the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme include:

• Loans can help spread the cost of energy upgrades over a period of time, making it easier to balance repayments against savings on bills.
• Streamlined process for grant and loan applications.
• An approved loan can be drawn down before works begin for deposits or milestone payments.
• Flexibility to spend up to 25% of the loan on non-energy related works (e.g., redecorating your home)
• Loans are unsecured (i.e. there is no charge taken over the property as is the case with a mortgage).

A list of participating finance providers are available on the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) website: Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme - SBCI