Stark north-south energy funding difference
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) was allocated €655 million for residential and community energy upgrade schemes under Budget 2027, while the North’s Department for the Economy (DfE) has delivered over £25 million in support to households and businesses for energy projects since December 2021.
This represents an annual average delivery of £5 million (€5.9 million), meaning the SEAI’s allocation under Budget 2027 is €649.1 million greater than this. The SEAI’s allocation forms part of €956 million provided for energy transformation under the budget and is intended to support the delivery of the National Residential Retrofit Plan 2026, published by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (DCEE) in January 2026.
DCEE says this is to be supplemented with additional funding including from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The ERDF is to provide for an increase in the allocation for the Warmer Home Scheme in 2027.
SEAI’s allocation will contribute to funding new measures introduced by the Government in September 2026. The new measures are to provide for solar PV and battery systems as standard for fully-funded Warmer Homes Scheme retrofits
They are also to provide “more generous” solar, attic, and cavity insulation grants to those most at risk. Further measures include “more favourable eligibility criteria” for solar PV and solar thermal, a fossil fuel boiler scrappage support of €2,000, and enhanced business supports “worth thousands in energy savings”.
Under the allocation, the SEAI is also to provide increased supports and advisory services to enable the public sector to manage energy costs and contribute to Ireland’s greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
Under Budget 2027, the SEAI has also been provided with €37 million to provide continued support for energy research. This includes investment in the SEAI’s Research Development and Demonstration Programme which aims to accelerate solutions for the State’s transition to a clean and secure energy future.
DCEE says supports for businesses “will save thousands in energy costs”. It adds that businesses availing of enhanced solar PV supports could reduce energy costs by up to €300,000 annually. Significant energy savings are also possible with enhanced solar thermal and heat pump grants, DCEE says. The Department states that “households could benefit from savings of up to €878 per year”.
“More than one in every 10 homes in Ireland have already benefited from SEAI-supported home energy upgrades.”
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien TD
Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien TD says: “More than one in every 10 homes in Ireland have already benefited from SEAI-supported home energy upgrades. Budget 2027 allows us to accelerate that progress even further; reaching more households, delivering more improvements, and doing so faster.”
The Department says more than 287,000 home energy improvements have been supported since 2019. In this time, more than €2 billion has been invested through SEAI residential schemes. Over 39,500 fully funded upgrades have been delivered through the Warmer Homes Scheme, while over 120,000 homes have been supported through the solar PV grant scheme. A total of 3,160 installations have been supported through the Non-Domestic Microgen Grant Scheme since its launch in 2022.
Department for the Economy
DfE tells eolas Magazine: “Since the Executive agreed the Energy Strategy in December 2021, the Department for the Economy has delivered over £25 million in support to households and businesses for energy projects and is committed to scale the level of support available.”
In April 2026, the Utility Regulator approved the Northern Ireland Sustainable Energy Programmes (NISEP) schemes for 2026/2027. It is an energy efficiency programme for domestic and non-domestic customers. At least 80 per cent of the funding is available to vulnerable or ‘priority’ customers.
Energy Saving Trust is the administrator of the programme on behalf of the Utility Regulator. It is an £8 million fund which is collected from domestic and commercial electricity customers through a public service obligation.
The Department for the Economy aims to support businesses to improve energy efficiency through the £40 million Energy and Resource Efficiency Programme, delivered by Invest NI. Half of the programme’s funding is directed towards the Energy Efficiency Capital grant. The programme also provides free access to energy audits, renewable energy feasibility studies, and technical assessments for eligible businesses.
Invest NI also delivers the recently announced Shared Island Sustainability Challenge Fund, providing £3 million for innovative energy projects. The Department tells eolas Magazine that this “builds on the support offered from the Shared Island Sustainability Capital grant” which provided £10 million across three large-scale energy projects in 2025.
Regarding energy support for households, according to the Northern Ireland Housing Bulletin April: June 2026, just under £10 million was spent on the Affordable Warmth Scheme in 2025/2026. The Department says officials are currently developing a new Domestic Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Heat Programme. It is to undergo consultation in Q4 2026 and is due to be launched in late-2027.
“As an interim measure, while the new programme is being developed, the Department has provided almost £6 million in additional support to NISEP, helping around 2,500 low-income households improve thermal comfort and reduce energy bills,” the Department says.
