The latest support to aid small businesses on their sustainability journey was announced this week by Simon Coveney, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and has been welcomed by North Cork Fine Gael Councillor John Paul O’Shea. The Energy Efficiency Grant was detailed at the Building Better Business event in the University of Limerick.
The new support, available through the Local Enterprise Offices, will enable small businesses to invest in technologies and equipment to make their businesses more energy efficient. The grant will be available to companies who through participation in the Green for Micro, GreenStart or SEAI Energy Audit programmes have identified the technology and equipment need and benefits.
The grant will cover up to 50% of the costs to a maximum amount of €5,000. The scheme will reduce the impact of small businesses on the environment and may help them to reduce costs over time to enable them to become more competitive.
Minister Coveney said:
“The Energy Efficiency Grant is another significant step in helping our small businesses to become more sustainable and to make a significant contribution to reducing their energy output. Everyone must make changes as we aim to become a more sustainable country and small businesses are no different. This grant will make it more feasible for small businesses to engage in this process and hopefully set them on a more sustainable path. The Local Enterprise Office’s Green for Micro programme has enabled many small companies to take those first steps and now with the Energy Efficiency Grant they can continue that journey.”
North Cork Fine Gael Councillor John Paul O’Shea said:
“It is great to see this grant join the suite of practical and impactful supports offered by Local Enterprise Offices. It has been a very difficult year for businesses facing high energy and input costs. I would encourage any eligible business to investigate this grant, which offers a real opportunity to reduce your operating costs and boost resilience, while also lowering emissions and helping Ireland to meet our climate action targets.”
The Energy Efficiency Grant is another support from the Local Enterprise Offices for small businesses that enables them to increase their competitiveness and productivity. Small businesses are also able to avail of the Lean for Micro, Digital Start and Green for Micro programmes through their LEO that will all help small businesses to become more competitive and increase their productivity. For more information on the new grant, see below or log onto www.localenterprise.ie/energy.
The Energy Efficiency Grant supports the investment in technologies and equipment identified in a Green for Micro Report, GreenStart Report or a SEAI Energy Audit with 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum grant of €5,000.
The aim of the scheme is to reduce the impact of enterprises on the environment thereby increasing the agility and resilience of these businesses.
Who is Eligible for Energy Grant
· small enterprises (employing between 1 and 50) *
· who have undertaken a Green for Micro, GreenStart or recent energy audit by a SEAI registered energy auditor and who are not currently clients of Enterprise Ireland/Údarás na Gaeltachta/IDA.
· who are established, registered, and operate within the area of the Local Enterprise Office.
· where the turnover is in excess of €30,000 annually and the business is trading in excess of 6 months
*except those involved in activities that the Local Enterprise Offices consider as ineligible (primary agricultural, fishery or aquaculture, coal and steel sectors) and those involving an unacceptable reputational risk including gambling, ‘gaming’ (as defined in the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956), adult entertainment, tobacco products and cannabis-based products which are not authorised as medicines).
Eligible Costs
· Meters (electricity, gas, diesel, oil, water, steam & loggers) and installation costs
· Smart energy controls e.g., heating, cooling, lighting, automatic on/off systems, parasitic load controls
· Upgrade lighting to LED (only as part of a package of eligible cost measures)
· Replacement/upgrade with more energy efficient system, e.g. Heat Pumps (including air, water, and ground source) for manufacturing heating processes
· Heat recovery
· Small wind & hydro subject to feasibility assessment
· Equipment (>10 years) replacement/upgrade such as refrigeration unit, electric steam boiler, electric oven, industrial dishwasher, engineering equipment
· System components upgrades such as variable speed drives, pumps, fans, condensers, extraction systems, cold room doors
*Products for which the investment is applied for should be registered as Triple E or equivalent.
Ineligible Costs
· Solar panels; a Solar PV grant is available under SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen Scheme
· Biomass boilers, Anaerobic Digestors; SEAI Support Scheme for Renewable Heat provides operational support to biomass heating systems and anaerobic digestion heating systems
· Insulation, Heat pumps for space heating; support is available under SEAI Sustainable Energy Communities and SEAI Support Scheme for Renewable Heat
· Activities related to fossil fuel e.g., fossil fuel condenser boiler
· Software platform costs, specifically for subscription and on-going support and maintenance costs.
Ineligible Businesses
· Are operating solely from a domestic/home based office.
· Are operating in the coal or steel sector.
· Are active in the primary agricultural, fishery or aquaculture sectors.
· Are involved in activities that Local Enterprise Offices considers as ineligible or as involving an unacceptable reputational risk. Ineligible activities include activities relating to:
o The gambling sector, including ‘gaming’ (as defined in the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956).
o Adult entertainment.
o Tobacco and tobacco related products.
o Cannabis-based products which are not authorised as medicines.
o Note: This is not an exhaustive list and Enterprise Ireland has a dynamic policy position on several activities. Any queries in relation to the eligibility of an activity will be directed to the Enterprise Ireland Policy department who will assess the case.
