Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2023
87. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the action his Department is taking to assist SMEs to reduce carbon emissions in 2023; if further financial supports to assist SMEs is needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9776/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment has responsibility for the sectoral emissions ceilings for both industry and commercial buildings. My Department, through schemes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), provides various supports to enterprises, which can assist the sectors (including SMEs) in increasing their energy efficiency and lowering their carbon emissions. A summary of the existing support schemes administered by SEAI is set out in the table below. There has been a high uptake by SMEs, in particular, of the community energy grants and the support scheme for energy audits.
|
SEAI Scheme |
Description |
Budget 2023 |
|
Community Energy Grant |
Grant support for cross-sectoral projects, including homes and non-domestic applicants. Typically 60% of funding is for the non-domestic sector. |
€68,000,000 |
|
Support Scheme for Energy Audits (SSEA) |
Supports SMEs (€2,000 voucher) to carry out professional energy audits, thus encouraging implementation of energy saving measures identified. |
€2,180,000 |
|
Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN) |
SEAI assists the companies on energy improvements. Best practice guidance is shared among LIEN members on how to manage energy performance. |
€717,000 |
|
Excellence in Energy Efficiency Design (EXEED) |
A certified program for a systematic energy efficient approach to design, construction, and commissioning new investments and upgrades at the earliest stages of the business life cycle. |
€7,500,000 |
|
Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) |
A grant (of up to 30%) to support investment in renewable heating systems using heat pumps. An operational support tariff over 15 years for new installations or installations that currently use a fossil fuel heating system and convert to using biomass or anaerobic digestion heating systems. |
€3,940,000 (€3.5m current and €440,000 current (grant)) |
|
Non-Domestic Microgen Scheme |
Provides financial assistance to help businesses and other sectors to install solar PV panels to generate electricity on site. Grants are available for systems up to a maximum of €2,400 for installations of up to 6kWp. |
€2,200,000 (€200,000 current and €2m capital) |
|
Energy Academy |
Online resource -access to high quality energy training |
€100,000 |
The Schemes are kept under regular review to ensure their effectiveness. There is a clear imperative for the commercial and industry sectors, including SMEs, to accelerate activity to reduce carbon emissions and in that context there is active consideration of whether further financial supports from SEAI to assist SMS are needed.
There are a broader range of enterprise supports (funded from a variety of sources) available to assist businesses. Further information on the broader supports can be found on the “Climate Toolkit for Business” website www.climatetoolkit4business.gov.ie/next-steps-and-further-information/.
