Applications for home energy grants have surged, says SEAI

Trainees Sean Walsh and Aaron Nolan with SEAI chief executive William Walsh and climate, energy, and environment minister Darragh O’Brien. Grant applications for home energy upgrades have surged in 2026. Picture: Julien Behal 

Grant applications for home energy upgrades have surged so far this year, according to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

SEAI said it has supported 12,300 home energy upgrades through Government-funded grant schemes in the first quarter of 2026.

In 2025, more than €75m in SEAI grant funding approved to support over 4,500 businesses in 2025. Residential retrofit demand also reached record highs in 2025, with 58,600 property upgrades supported. 

So far this year, there has been a record 25,000 grant applications for home energy upgrades processed after enhanced SEAI supports were announced earlier this year. SEAI is funded by the Government through the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment. 

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SEAI chief executive William Walsh said the surge in applications came at a time when energy costs are a concern for many households, and encouraged homeowners not to wait until the colder months to consider upgrades, which he said makes homes less costly to run and reduced reliance on fossil fuels. "With new and expanded grant options, you can reduce your homes reliance on fossil fuels and get the benefits of a warmer and healthier house. Grant support is available for windows and doors, attic and wall insulation, heat pumps, and solar panels as well as fully funded energy upgrades under the Warmer Homes scheme," said Mr Walsh. 

A simplified Building Energy Rating (BER) for residential properties is being introduced from May 24, in line with a standardised approach towards BER classes across the European Union. These changes are being introduced in new regulations under the EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

The EPBD will bring greater comparability across the EU to the presentation of BER scales. In line with the EU Directive, the new scale will go  to a more streamlined form - from A to G. There will also be a new ‘A0’ category for zero-emission homes with a very high energy performance that do not use fossil fuels. All existing BER certs will remain valid for mandatory obligations such as sale or rent for 10 years from their date of issue.