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The SEAI offers a range of grants for home improvements including the, Fully Funded Energy Upgrade, Individual Energy Upgrade and One Stop Shop Service. To apply for an SEAI grant, you can make an application online on the SEAI website or by post. If you have any queries in relation to your grant application, you can contact the SEAI is (01) 808 2004.
The three main grant scheme options offered by the SEAI are tailored for different needs.
Here is a quick comparison to help you choose the right path for your home energy upgrade.
| Scheme Name | Individual Energy Upgrade Grants | Complete Home Energy Upgrade (One Stop Shop) | Fully Funded Energy Upgrade (Warmer Homes) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Scope | 1 or 2 specific energy upgrades (e.g., attic insulation OR heat pump). | Deep retrofit of the entire home (multiple measures). | Full home energy upgrade at no cost to the homeowner. |
| BER Target / Result | No minimum target (must achieve a post-works BER). | Must go from B3 or lower to a minimum of B2. | Target is to achieve the best cost-effective rating (typically C). |
| Project Management | Homeowner manages the project, hires contractors, and applies for grants. | Managed entirely by an SEAI-registered One Stop Shop. | Managed entirely by SEAI. |
| Means Tested? | No. Open to all homeowners. | No. Open to all homeowners. | Yes. Must be in receipt of specific welfare payments. |
| Grant Payment | Paid to the homeowner after the work is complete. | Deducted upfront from the project cost by the One Stop Shop. | 100% covered (zero cost to homeowner). |
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The SEAI Individual Energy Upgrade Grants allow you to carry out one or more specific energy upgrades on your home at your own pace.
You hire an SEAI-registered contractor, pay them directly, and the grant is paid to you once the work is completed and validated with a post-works BER certificate.
The grant amounts depend on the measure and the size/type of your home.
You apply for and receive the grant payment after the work is fully completed.
| Energy Measure | Apartment / Mid-Terrace Home | Semi-detached / End-Terrace Home | Detached Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air-to-Water Heat Pump | €4,500 | €6,000 | €6,500 |
| Attic Insulation | €800 | €1,200 | €1,500 |
| Cavity Wall Insulation | €700 | €800 | €1,200 |
| Internal Wall Insulation | €2,000 | €3,500 | €4,500 |
| External Wall Insulation | €3,500 | €6,000 | €8,000 |
| Solar PV (Max 4kWp) | Up to €1,800 | ||
Your home must meet the following criteria to qualify:
Note that you can apply for multiple individual grants, but you must apply for them separately.
Mandatory Technical Assessment for Heat Pumps
If you are applying for a Heat Pump Grant or a Heat Pump with Heating Controls Grant, a Technical Assessment by an SEAI Registered Technical Advisor is a mandatory first step. The assessment ensures the home is suitable and specifies the necessary complementary measures (like insulation) to guarantee an efficient system.
The One Stop Shop Service is designed for a complete, stress-free deep retrofit.
A single provider manages the entire process: the technical assessment, securing all necessary grants, coordinating the contractors, managing quality control, and handling the final BER certification.
The grant is applied upfront by the One Stop Shop, meaning you only pay the discounted cost of the project.
The One Stop Shop Service provides high grant values because it bundles multiple measures to achieve a high Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2 or better.
| Energy Measure | Home Type | Grant Value |
|---|---|---|
| External Wall Insulation | Apartments | €3,500 |
| Mid-Terrace Home | €6,000 | |
| Semi-detached or End-Terrace | €8,000 | |
| Detached Home | €9,500 | |
| Windows Upgrade | Apartments | €1,500 |
| Mid-Terrace Home | €1,800 | |
| Semi-detached or End-Terrace | €3,000 | |
| Detached Home | €4,000 | |
| Project Management | Apartments | €800 |
| Mid-Terrace Home | €1,200 | |
| Semi-detached or End-Terrace | €1,600 | |
| Detached Home | €2,000 |
You can choose from a list of qualified SEAI contractors at the "Find a Registered One Stop Shop Provider" link.
Your home or property needs to meet all of the following criteria to qualify for the One Stop Shop Service grant:
You can also have a look at other SEAI grants section below for further home improvements you may qualify for.
The requirement for your home to achieve a Building Energy Rating (BER) of at least B2 under the One Stop Shop Service is a key part of the program's design.
This isn't just an arbitrary target; it's designed to ensure that the grant money is used to achieve a significant, long-lasting improvement in your home's energy performance.
A B3 rating is already a good score, often achieved by homes that are relatively modern or have already had some insulation upgrades. The push to a B2 rating or better means your home will be in the top tier of energy-efficient houses, resulting in a much warmer, healthier living environment and substantial reductions in your heating and electricity bills.
To get a home from a C3 or D1 rating to a B2 typically requires a more intensive, "deep retrofit" that often includes multiple measures like wall and attic insulation, new windows, and the installation of a heat pump. The One Stop Shop is specifically designed to manage this comprehensive process for you.
We summarise some of the pros and cons regarding the One Stop Shop Service grant.
Known as the Warmer Homes Scheme, this SEAI grant provides free energy-efficient home upgrades for homeowners that receive certain welfare payments and other vulnerable citizens.
You will receive a free assessment from an SEAI surveyor who will recommend the most suitable upgrades for your home.
Upgrades offered include:
| Attic Insulation | Cavity Wall Insulation | External Wall Insulation |
| Internal Wall Insulation | Replacement Windows | Home Heating Systems Upgrade |
| Heating Control Thermostats | Ventilation | Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) |
| Draught Proofing | Lagging Jacket for Hot Water Tanks |
The grant will cover the totality of the following expenses for these projects:
To qualify for any of these SEAI grants under the Free Energy Upgrade Scheme, you need to meet all four of the following criteria:
If you do not qualify for this SEAI grant, don't fret, have a look at some of the other options for homeowners below.
It is important to be aware that it may take up to 2 years before your home is completed as applications are dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis.
The following are the current approximate wait times for each stage of the application process:
Before you can apply for the grant, all homes must have a Building Energy Rating Certificate (BER) in place. If you do not have a valid BER, SEAI will carry one out for you in advance of works taking place, but this may impact waiting times for applicants.
Here are some of the pros and cons regarding the free energy grant.
The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme, backed by the Irish government, is designed to help bridge the financial gap between the total cost of your retrofit and the SEAI grants you receive.
These loans are available from a number of participating banks and credit unions and can be used in conjunction with SEAI grants.
Key Features of the Loan Scheme:
To qualify for the loan, you must be availing of a grant under an SEAI scheme (such as the One Stop Shop Service) and the planned upgrades must be projected to achieve at least a 20% improvement in your home's current BER.
Grants from the SEAI are not limited to, nor excluded from, pensioners or those over 70 years of age.
While SEAI and local authorities offer support that is particularly helpful for pensioners (especially through the Warmer Homes Scheme and Housing Aid for Older People Grant), the majority of SEAI's home energy upgrade grants are accessible to any homeowner who meets the technical and property-related criteria.
Any homeowner who is also a pensioner can apply for these grants provided their home meets the eligibility criteria.
The Housing Aid for Older People grant is one grant that is specifically for people aged 66 and older (pensioners), though local authorities can sometimes make exceptions in cases of genuine hardship for those under 66. This grant is managed by local authorities, not directly by SEAI, and is means-tested.
It typically covers a range of essential repairs and improvements to make a home more suitable for an older person, such as structural repairs, roof repairs, re-wiring, window and door replacement, and the provision of heating or sanitary facilities.
This grant is managed by local authorities, not directly by SEAI, and is means-tested.
The procedure to apply for an SEAI grant is relatively straightforward. These may vary slightly depending on the grant you are applying for (the One Stop Shop process is different as the provider handles most of this).
Steps to follow include:
Apply for the corresponding grant or grants
You can apply either online via the SEAI website or by submitting a postal application. Online applications will receive grant offers immediately.
Postal offers will be issued within five working days. You must accept the offer within the 30-day period after receiving it.
Have the work on your home carried out
You must make sure all work is carried out within the following eight-month period. Your grant offer letter will contain the final date for completing the work.
Be sure all work is carried out by an SEAI registered contractor. Either pay the contractor outright or organise financing with them, then complete a BER assessment and have a BER certificate published.
In addition to the main home energy upgrade grants, SEAI offers support for other energy-saving measures, including schemes for energy companies and Electric Vehicles (EVs).
These are:
We examine in detail each of these programmes below.
The SEAI Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS) requires energy suppliers to support energy efficiency projects across Ireland.
Under this scheme, companies that sell large amounts of energy are called obligated parties. These parties must reach specific targets set by SEAI. Targets can be achieved by offering support to homeowners to make their homes more energy-efficient.
Through this scheme homeowners can get support from any obligated party — it does not have to be from your energy supplier!
Check and see which suppliers participate in this scheme. However, we do recommend contacting your energy supplier first to see if they will cover the improvements.
Let’s have a look at what is available for homeowners under the SEAI Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme.
For more information on this grant, visit the EEOS webpage.
SEAI also provides electric vehicle (EV) grants for both personal and commercial use.
Here are the three types of grants available for personal use:
We discuss in further detail these three types of personal SEAI EV grants below.
This scheme provides a maximum grant value of €3,500 for purchasing qualifying electric vehicles (EVs) that are destined for private use.
The grant value depends on the list price of the vehicle. EVs with a list price of less than €14,000 or more than €60,000 are not eligible for a grant, nor are second-hand vehicles.
The table below shows the corresponding grant values for different vehicle list prices.
| List Price | Grant Value |
|---|---|
| €14,000 to €15,000 | €1,500 |
| €15,000 to €16,000 | €2,000 |
| €16,000 to €17,000 | €2,500 |
| €17,000 to €18,000 | €3,000 |
| €18,000 to €60,000 | €3,500 |
Like with private EV vehicles, the grant value for commercial vehicles depends on the list price of the vehicle.
EVs with a list price of less than €14,000 or more than €60,000 are not eligible for a grant, nor are second-hand vehicles.
The table below shows the corresponding grant values for different commercial vehicle list prices.
| List Price | Grant Value |
|---|---|
| €14,000 to €15,000 | €2,000 |
| €15,000 to €16,000 | €2,500 |
| €16,000 to €17,000 | €3,000 |
| €17,000 to €18,000 | €3,500 |
| €18,000 to €60,000 | €3,800 |
When purchasing your new electric vehicle, the car dealer will apply for this EV grant for you. The amount will then be deducted from the total price of your new EV.
With the EV Home Charger grant, you can get up to €300 for a new home charger unit. To qualify, you must own an eligible new or second-hand EV.
The EV charger must be connected to your home’s fuse board, and your home's MPRN will be used to confirm this location. You must park the EV in an off-street location.
You must have purchased the EV (new or second-hand) from 1 January 2018 to qualify for the grant. Once you receive your Letter of Offer, you must wait until the official start date to commence any work. Otherwise, you will be deemed ineligible for grant support.
You are not eligible if you have received a previous EV charger grant at the same property.
Household Budget Scheme
The Household Budget Scheme assists individuals receiving specific social welfare payments in managing household expenses. Weekly, fixed-amount deductions are made from your social welfare payments to cover bills such as electricity, gas, and rental payment contributions.
In addition to the main grant schemes, SEAI offers supports for specific situations:
SEAI grants are not limited to owner-occupiers. Landlords can also apply for grants to upgrade their rental properties, as a BER rating is required for all rental properties.
The eligibility criteria and grant amounts for landlords are generally the same as those for homeowners under the Individual Energy Upgrade Grants and the One Stop Shop Service.
Upgrading a rental property can increase its value, reduce a tenant's bills, and help meet legal requirements for energy efficiency.
Homeowners affected by defective concrete blocks can access SEAI grants to improve the energy performance of their homes as part of the remediation process.
This is a special, streamlined provision that allows homeowners to combine their remediation work with a deep energy retrofit. The grants help cover the cost of upgrades like insulation, heat pumps, and solar panels, which are not typically included in the original Defective Concrete Block Scheme.
SEAI has a dedicated team and phone number to assist affected homeowners with this process which can be contacted on 01 8082004.
While your article focuses on residential grants, it's worth noting that SEAI also provides a wide range of grants and supports for businesses, community groups, and public sector buildings.
These include grants for energy audits, installing renewable heating systems, and implementing energy-efficient designs.
In the table below, you'll find the contact information for the different SEAI departments.
| Department | Contact Details |
|---|---|
| SEAI Head Office | 01 808 2100 3 Park Place, Hatch Street Upper, Dublin 2, Co.Dublin D02 FX65 |
| Home Energy Grants | 01 808 2004. |
| Fully Funded Energy Upgrades | 01 808 2005 Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, |
| Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme | [email protected] |
| EV Grants | [email protected] |
No, the SEAI no longer offer any grants for home boilers including gas and oil. There are grants available for non-carbon emitting heating systems such as heat pumps.
Generally, no, most SEAI grants (such as the Individual Energy Upgrade Grants and the One Stop Shop Service) are not directly related to your income or means.
They are awarded based on the home improvements you are planning to do and are designed to encourage better energy efficiency regardless of the homeowner’s level of income.
However, the Fully Funded Energy Upgrade (Warmer Homes Scheme) is targeted at low-income households and requires recipients to be in receipt of specific social welfare payments, which serves as a form of means testing.
Additionally, the Housing Aid for Older People Grant (managed by local authorities, not SEAI directly) is means-tested.
A Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate is an energy efficiency label for homes in Ireland, ranging from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).
It assesses factors like insulation, heating, and windows to provide a standardized measure of a home's energy performance.
Legally required for new builds and when selling or renting, BER certificates help homeowners understand their energy use and enable buyers or renters to compare properties, potentially leading to lower energy bills and reduced environmental impact.
Our dedicated grants and schemes guides contain all the information you need including eligibility requirements, grant amounts, and how to apply.
The services and products mentioned on this website may only represent a small selection of the options available to you. Selectra encourages you to carry out your own research and seek advice if necessary before making any decisions. We may receive commission from selected partner providers on sales of some products and/or services mentioned within this website. Our website is free to use, and the commission we receive does not affect our opinion or the information we provide.
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