Business Energy Upgrades Scheme

Last month the Sustainability Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) formally launched a new scheme to help small and medium-sized businesses reduce their energy costs and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.

The Business Energy Upgrade Scheme (BEUS), which has been in place since November 2024, provides funding for a range of upgrade projects including rooftop solar, electric heat pumps, heat recovery systems, and building fabric upgrades. The scheme also offers funding for advisory services to help firms identify the upgrades that work best for their business and design a bespoke Building Management System.

The BEUS has significant potential to accelerate decarbonisation and energy efficiency in the SME sector because of its streamlined application process. The new online platform for applications and automated approval process eliminates the many administrative challenges firms previously faced when applying for such funding.

The new scheme is also highly flexible. Applicants can select a combination of grant supports from a long list – tailored to meet their business needs – up to a maximum of 450k per site.1 This means the scheme can work for every SMEs including small manufacturers, hotels, offices, and retail units.

Breakdown of Grants

• Solar Thermal - 30% of cost up to €15,000
• Solar PV - Based on output from PV system to a max output of 1000KWp and max value of €162,600. More detailed breakdown on website
• Building Fabric Upgrades - 30% of value up to €120,000
• Heat Pumps - Up to 30% of value up to €100,000
• Pump - 30% of pump upgrade up to €10,000
• Air Handling unit/heat recovery upgrade - Up to 30% of upgrade up to €25,000
• Building Management system Optimisation - €2,000 grant
• Building Management system Controls - Grant up to €30,000
• Design Assistance - Up to 50% up to €25,000

To learn more about the new scheme and rapid approval grants click here https://www.seai.ie/grants/business-grants/rapid-approval

For businesses with bigger energy systems in need of higher value support, SEAI’s more tailored supports like the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat and EXEED will be more appropriate. Click here to learn more: https://www.seai.ie/grants/business-grants

James Fitzmaurice

Policy Executive

Ibec