Sustainable Energy Ireland's renewable energy research, development and demonstration programme has a funding budget of €16.25 million under the national development plan. It was officially launched in July 2002. The focus of the programme is on stimulating the deployment of renewable energies that are close to market and to assess and develop technologies which have prospects for the future. This could include measures to identify the prospective resource; to stimulate the development of the technologies; to produce implementation plans for those with economic potential; to remove barriers to the deployment of renewable energy; and to help to stimulate an Irish renewable energy industry. This funding is undertaken in the categories of shared cost, public good – full funding – and international collaboration. Based on contracts signed or issued to date, the amount committed under the renewable energy research, development and demonstration programme is approximately €673,500. A further 22 applications which are currently under consideration for funding may be eligible for support of up to €3.5 million. Projects funded to date include those in the renewable energy areas of biomass, wind, wave, solar and geothermal.