Government announce package of renewable energy and retrofit grants
The Government have announced a package of renewable energy and retrofit grants to help businesses and households reduce energy costs.
The grants include the new €2,000 boiler scrappage scheme, a battery grant and enhanced support for households at risk of energy poverty.
Effective from 6 October 2026, the new measures include:
- Solar PV and battery will be offered as standard under the fully funded Warmer Homes Scheme.
- More generous grants for solar, attic and cavity insulation.
- More favourable eligibility criteria for solar PV and solar thermal.
- Fossil fuel boiler scrappage support of €2,000.
The Government say that the measures are expected to deliver long-lasting reductions in energy costs for households and businesses. They say that depending on the measure installed, households could see savings of up to €878 per year.
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien said: “Many households and businesses continue to face real pressure from high energy costs. Recent developments in international energy markets have once again highlighted the importance of reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels and strengthening our energy security.
“The Government has already introduced more than €1.4 billion in energy affordability measures since March. The measures announced today build on that response by making it easier and more affordable for households and businesses to reduce their energy bills through energy efficiency, renewable energy and cleaner heating technologies.
“A particular focus of this package is ensuring that households most exposed to high energy costs can benefit from the energy transition. Enhanced supports for households at risk of energy poverty, medically vulnerable customers, lower-income homeowners and renters will help ensure that those who need support most can access the benefits of lower energy bills. This package also substantially boosts support for solar installations for businesses, as well as other energy efficiency measures.
“These measures, developed through the work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce, form part of the Government’s broader efforts to improve energy affordability, strengthen energy security and support the transition to a cleaner energy future. Further measures will be considered as part of Budget 2027, while the forthcoming Energy Affordability Action Plan, to be published next month, will set out a roadmap for improving energy affordability for households and businesses.”
The CEO of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, William Walsh, said: “The only long-term solution to high energy bills is to stop relying on the fossil fuels that drive them, and the best way to do that is through retrofit. We've had unprecedented demand for our programmes this year, with some of our offerings seeing an over 200% rise in the number of applications. These new measures are really welcome and will help us reach even more next year, especially those most in need, which is always a particular focus for us at SEAI.”