Shining a spotlight on Ireland’s Green Innovators: Bord na Móna’s Accelerate Green Programme 2024
Bord na Móna Chief Executive, Tom Donnellan, pictured with representatives from the eight Accelerate Green participant companies: ACEL Energy, SomaTech Limited, Voltclub Renewables, Konree Innovation, Weev, I/O Agri, AffinityEV and Universal Graphics at the Accelerate Green Conference at the Tullamore Court Hotel. Accelerate Green is an accelerator programme launched by Bord na Móna to help businesses innovating in the sustainable climate solutions space to grow and thrive.
Eight of Ireland’s promising green innovators completed Bord na Móna’s prestigious Accelerate Green programme this week.
This leading sustainability-focused accelerator, delivered in collaboration with Resolve Partners, is dedicated to scaling early-stage enterprises and SMEs at the forefront of climate action delivering sustainable innovations for a variety of industries in Ireland and internationally.
This year’s standout participants include: ACEL Energy, Voltclub Renewables, Konree Innovation, Weev, SomaTech, I/O Agri, AffinityEV, and Universal Graphics. These Irish companies are pioneering advancements across a range of sectors, such as renewable energy, sustainable agri-tech, EV charging, and food fermentation, addressing various sustainable business needs through their unique services and products.
As part of the programme, the 2024 cohort participated in a series of immersive learning sessions and mentoring workshops over eight modules in the dedicated Accelerate Green hub in Boora, Co Offaly.
Participants engaged with a diverse range of speakers, including leaders from enterprise and energy agencies, Irish corporate entities, research networks, and investors. The participants also engaged with senior leaders from across Bord na Móna’s business gaining insight into the company’s own scaling journey in line with its Brown to Green transition — pivoting from a traditional peat business to a leading climate solutions and renewable energy company.
The conclusion of this year’s programme was celebrated at the Accelerate Green Conference 2024 in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. The conference showcased the eight businesses and their journeys so far.
Over 250 attendees, comprised of industry leaders, customers, investors, Government officials, entrepreneurs and academia, joined the conference to gain insights from some of Ireland’s key thought leaders and innovators who are using sustainable business ideas and practices to address climate change.
Esteemed industry experts such as Jane Stout, Vice President for Biodiversity and Climate Action at Trinity College Dublin, Donal Flavin, Head of Strategic Policy covering Energy, Sustainability, Telecommunications, Digital, and Data at IDA Ireland, James Sprinz, Vice President at Energy Impact Partners; and Eoin Kennedy, Head of Future Operations at Eirgrid, among others were in attendance on the day.
To date, 42 sustainability focused businesses have successfully participated in the Accelerate Green programme since it first launched in 2022, with many of these reporting significant progress in their business journeys — collectively raising €10 million in venture capital, highlighting the tangible impact of this initiative and its efficacy in fostering business scaling skills.
Recent research among 2022-2023 Accelerate Green alumni sheds light on several significant achievements: over 90% of past participants now feel more confident in their ability to scale their companies successfully.
Since completing the programme, 75% have expanded their workforce and significantly grown their operations. Alumni also greatly value the programme's networking opportunities, with 88% broadening their network and 63% creating new business opportunities through connections made during the programme.
Emphasising the positive impact that the Accelerate Green programme has had so far on his renewable energy-focused business is James Goldsmith, Managing Director at Voltclub, said: "Bord na Móna’s Accelerate Green 2024 programme has been an extremely beneficial experience for developing my business both within and beyond the Irish market. The networking, mentoring, and forward-focused outlook provided by the programme are instrumental in helping my business reach its full potential. This includes promoting renewable energy adoption and creating a real-time marketplace for businesses to buy directly from local wind and solar farms."
Accelerate Green has provided me with the confidence and expertise needed to take my business to the next level, and I am grateful for the peer groups and businesses I have met and connected with along the way. I would encourage any business or start-up thinking of applying to Bord na Móna’s Accelerate Green programme to go for it, as the opportunities and abilities for growth are boundless.”
A central tenet of Bord na Móna's mission is to help emerging innovators in the sustainability space across Ireland to grow and thrive. With a bigger and stronger network of climate solutions businesses, Ireland will be better placed to reach its climate action targets and safeguard a greener and more sustainable future for communities across the country.
As such, Bord na Móna has committed €5 million to support Ireland’s green innovator network through the rollout of Accelerate Green from 2022 to 2025.
Speaking at the conference, Bord na Móna Chief Executive, Tom Donnellan, commended the businesses taking part in Accelerate Green 2024 as drivers of green innovation who have the ability to prosper commercially with the right scaling tools in place, while simultaneously enabling Ireland to prosper through sustainable innovation.
“I am proud to see eight new businesses complete the Accelerate Green programme and join the thriving alumni of past participants. One of Ireland’s leading accelerator programmes, Accelerate Green provides a unique opportunity for businesses in the sustainability sector to develop the skills and knowledge required to scale their businesses and succeed in Ireland and beyond. As a business that previously transitioned from Brown to Green, we at Bord na Móna have worked closely with the participants, sharing our commercial knowledge, expertise and experience.
"This year’s cohort are an impressive display of climate-conscious companies, and they represent the future of green innovation in Ireland. Excelling in spaces from agri-tech to renewable energy solutions, each participant is fulfilling an important need in the sustainability space. I look forward to seeing all eight companies succeed in the future and contribute to Ireland’s ambitious climate goals."
By encouraging and developing this community of forward-thinking enterprises, Bord na Móna aims to cultivate a robust ecosystem of sustainability-focused businesses capable of amplifying their green solutions not only across Ireland but also on a global scale.
The 2024 Accelerate Green conference serves as a testament to Bord na Móna's unwavering commitment to fostering and empowering this network of Irish innovators within the sustainability space, providing a platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and collective action towards a greener future.
- ACEL Energy offers tailored renewable solutions such as solar, battery storage, and energy management through a co-ownership model, allowing its clients to transition to a Green Economy without investing capital.
- Voltclub Renewables is a renewable energy development company specialising in the development, sourcing, financing, and construction of renewable energy projects in Ireland, as well as supporting businesses in powering their operations sustainably, cost-effectively, and for the long term.
- Konree Innovation is a marine deep-tech company focused on developing technology that facilitates sustainable growth in salmon production by overcoming barriers in an environmentally conscious manner.
- Weev, Ireland's leading privately owned EV charging network, installs public charging stations and complete EV solutions for workplaces and fleets, offering convenient and dependable charging in as little as 20 minutes for EV drivers via its extensive network.
- SomaTech brings the art of solid-state fermentation to the food industry, creating sustainable ingredients for food companies and enabling them to be more circular by creating high-value ingredients.
- I/O Agri offers integrated solutions for sustainable farming practices across all areas of the farming supply chain, from ventilation to heating, from milling to feeding systems, as well as data monitoring and reporting.
- AffinityEV bridges the gap between EV manufacturers and energy firms, enabling dealerships to offer customers a comprehensive, all-inclusive package when buying an EV.
- Universal Graphics provide innovative branding solutions, incorporating the latest technologies with a specialisation in eco-friendly high-technology printing.
www.bordnamona.ie/climate-solutions/accelerate-green/
