Latest news with #SEAI
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
Mayo records sharp increase in electric car registrations
Between January and May this year, 127 electric vehicles were registered in Mayo, up from the 88 registered on the same period in 2024. This gives the county just over a 1pc share of all the electric vehicles registered in Ireland between January and May this year. In Mayo, 1,358 new vehicles were registered between January and May of this year, a 6.18pc increase on the 1,279 registered last year. Petrol cars remain the most popular engine type, accounting for 27.60pc of the market, followed by hybrid (petrol electric) at 23.09pc, diesel at 17.42pc, electric at 15.63pc, and plug-in electric hybrid at 14.64pc. Brian Cooke, SIMI Director General, said that private consumers continue to account for the majority of EV sales. 'While we are now on schedule to reach the interim Climate Action Plan target of 175,000 electric cars (EV & PHEV) by the end of this year, as highlighted by the EPA recently, we need to do more to accelerate the growth in EV sales between now and the end of the decade. In this context, Government initiatives and supports will be vital' he said. Grants of up to €3,500 are available from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for purchasing for privately purchased battery electric vehicles. Approved electric vehicles with a full price of more than €60,000 and less than €14,000 are not eligible for grants.
The Journal
4 days ago
- Business
- The Journal
Strike while the weather is hot! Get 20% off your gas boiler service when you book now
IT'S EASY TO forget your gas boiler maintenance when temperatures rise. That's why summer is the perfect time to beat the winter rush and make sure your boiler is ready to do its job when the season changes. Another reason to book your gas boiler service right now? Bord Gáis Energy is offering a 20% discount for a limited time. Why is a boiler service so important? The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) recommends a professional gas boiler service once a year in order to 'make it run more efficiently, improve safety, and reduce fuel consumption by 10%'. But a professional boiler service isn't just an important efficiency boost that can save you up to 10% on your energy costs. It's also a critical safety check that reduces the risk of breakdown and carbon monoxide emissions. That's because appliances that burn natural gas can create carbon monoxide if they're not working properly. Your engineer will check for this. Advertisement Bord Gáis Energy is one of the most trusted names in the business. This year alone, Bord Gáis Energy's engineers have already visited more than 60,000 Irish boilers to carry out their 19-check service and safety check. And no, you don't need to be a Bord Gáis Energy gas customer to book a service. What's included in a professional boiler service? A professional gas boiler service, like the one you'll get from Bord Gáis Energy, involves as many as 19 separate checks, which is why it's essential to ensure your engineer is registered with the Registered Gas Installers (RGI) of Ireland. These checks include electrical safety tests and checks on components, temperature control, and burner pressure and elements specific to your boiler type. The engineer will also check your carbon monoxide detector. Afterwards, you'll be given an RGI Compliance Certificate. To find out more about the range of gas boiler care services from Bord Gáis Energy, visit this page . Book online today for 20% off a gas boiler service, offer ends 30 June.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Losing SEAI retrofit services bidder challenges refusal to disclose pricing structure of winning bid
A losing bidder for a €75 million contract to provide surveys for the retrofitting of hundreds of thousands of properties is appealing a High Court refusal to order the winning bidder to disclose its lower and confidential pricing structure. The contract, awarded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), is set to last up to five years and is estimated to be worth €75 million. The services include supplying building energy ratings (BERs), surveys and inspections. The contract is currently held by Kerrigan Sheanon Newman Unlimited Company which has been supplying the services to the SEAI since 2012. The company lost out in the public procurement process when a new contract was publicly offered for tender. That tender was won by Abtran. READ MORE Kerrigan Sheanon Newman then brought High Court proceedings against the SEAI, with Abtran as notice party, challenging the award. It claimed the Abtran tender was too low, pointing out that it was 30 per cent lower than the price currently being paid to it for the service. The SEAI disputes Kerrigan Sheanon Newman's claims. In a pretrial application, Kerrigan Sheanon Newman sought discovery of documents and materials from the SEAI in relation to the Abtran tender. Last February, the High Court refused to grant discovery, saying Kerrigan Sheanon Newman did not provide compelling arguments to justify the 'very significant encroachment on the confidentiality of a winning tenderer's bid'. On Tuesday, Jonathan Newman SC, for Kerrigan Sheanon Newman, told the court his client has brought an appeal over that decision. While there had been certain agreed discovery between the parties, the High Court decision went against 'the run of case law' in discovery. An appeal date had been set in July and the parties were agreeable to a hearing of the matter in December, he said. Mr Justice Mark Sanfey said it was clearly a very urgent matter and he would list it for hearing for four days in December.
Irish Examiner
30-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
€19bn bonanza in Ireland's sustainable energy transition
Fulfilling Ireland's energy transition could result in up to €19 billion of capital expenditure annually by 2030. A report by SEAI identified the significant economic opportunity presented by the sustainable energy transition and outlined a number of key recommendations for how policymakers and industry can support Irish businesses to take advantage of this opportunity. 'Ireland can reap the economic benefits of a fossil fuel-free economy and society,' said William Walsh, CEO of SEAI. 'This report identifies the growth potential of 13 key technologies for the sustainable energy transition, and the supply chain areas where Irish businesses have potential opportunities to benefit from this growth.' He highlighted that there are potential opportunities for many businesses, similar to those exhibiting at the yearly SEAI Energy Show, to benefit from Ireland's energy transition. 'At SEAI, we are committed to supporting businesses across the Irish energy supply chain to deliver both a sustainable energy future and a healthy, future-proof economy for Ireland. Sustainable energy is good for business and good for climate.' The report identifies the importance of collaboration between the public and private sector in meeting our energy transition goals and sets out six key recommendations. These include: Developing skills and certifications — establish targeted training programs and accreditation frameworks to develop the necessary skills and certifications for installers and energy experts. Leveraging R&D capabilities — utilise Ireland's strong R&D capabilities to advance emerging renewable technologies. Promote sustainable practices — encourage businesses to adopt sustainable practices such as green procurement and comply with EU directives and legislation for sustainable and responsible business. Focus on high-value markets — effectively harness the opportunities available by prioritising high-value markets such as energy-efficient construction, sustainable biomass heating, electric vehicles, and smart grids. In addition, the report highlights the potential market size for a selection of key sustainable energy technologies in Ireland, the EU and globally, in addition to areas of the supply chain where Irish businesses in the manufacturing, construction and services sectors could capture a share of the market. Ultimately, the purpose of the report is to initiate discussions between government agencies and departments, industry and other stakeholders on how to harness the sustainable energy supply transition to both reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and stimulate economic growth, exports, foreign direct investment and jobs. Structured around five technology areas that will be critical to meeting Ireland's greenhouse gas mitigation targets — it underscores renewable electricity generation, energy storage and grid balancing, low-carbon transport, energy in buildings and energy in industry. 'What this report highlights is that this energy transition will deliver for both our planet, and our economy, creating significant opportunities for Irish businesses in the supply chain where Ireland is well positioned to capitalise,' said Darragh O'Brien, Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy . 'The Programme for Government is committed to Ireland's climate targets and to the energy transition which will lead to a more secure, sustainable and affordable energy future for our citizens and businesses.'
The Irish Sun
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Sweeping law forcing major building change to all new Irish homes would cost €4.5k but cut bills by €1k EVERY year
BEFORE sweeping into power in the UK, the Labour party promised a 'rooftop revolution' that would see millions more properties fitted with solar panels. All new homes in Advertisement 2 Brian Kelly says it's time to make solar panels mandatory on all new-build homes 2 The move would slash electricity bills for households Credit: Getty Images - Getty However, the measure will save English households around €1,000 per year on their energy bills. The This would require Ireland to implement a new law to meet these requirements. Writing in Advertisement READ MORE ON ENERGY BILLS IT'S high time that new homes in Ireland be required to have solar panels fitted on their rooftops, following similar policies in England and The move would slash electricity bills for households and also reduce our In England, property developers will be legally required to install solar panels on the roofs of new homes by 2027 under It is estimated that the rooftop installations could save new homeowners in England around £1,000 per year on their Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun Latest Beginning in 2020, California mandated that most new homes, apartments and commercial buildings have PV panels installed. And in Ireland, surveys have shown that the vast majority of people think we should follow suit. Scots charity uses power of the sun to save lives Some 81 per cent of people voiced their support for mandatory solar panels on Among the majority of respondents who were in favour of the proposal, many highlighted the many environmental and financial benefits of solar energy. Advertisement They're right — all new homes in Ireland will need to have rooftop panels fitted by 2029 under EU rules anyway, and it makes sense for the SUCCESSFUL GRANTS Existing grants from the SEAI have been hugely successful in encouraging people to invest in solar – with close to 30,000 homes being kitted out with panels in 2024. The current grant for solar is €1,800, and the average cost of a typical solar system of 10 panels costs around €6,600 after the grant. These Advertisement One deterrent for new homeowners to install solar is that after paying an extortionate amount for a new home, they are unable to access these grants. This is because SEAI grants are only offered to homes that were built before 2021. GOOD REASON On the surface, there is a good reason for this — the government is prioritising upgrading the energy efficiency of older homes instead of newly built, A-rated homes. But this leaves a growing body of homes in Ireland which are not eligible for the SEAI grant if people want to make their homes even more energy efficient. While the bottom line is the most important factor for those considering getting panels installed, grants also play an important psychological role, giving many homeowners the nudge and incentive they need to make the leap and request a quote. Advertisement Whether the grants are maintained at their current level or cut by €300 each year, Ireland must begin to make solar panels mandatory. SOLAR ENERGY TARGETS The EU's Solar Energy Strategy has legally binding targets for the integration of solar panels into new buildings in member states starting from 2026. New public and commercial buildings with a 'useful floor space' of 250m² or more will have to install solar panels from next year, and existing buildings must do the same by 2027. In 2029, new homes will be required by EU law to have rooftop solar panels. And although there might be an initial impact on prices from an increase in building costs, this measure will only benefit households, especially as electricity becomes the main source of heating, replacing gas and oil boilers. Advertisement Older homes which are not suitable for a heat pump without massive renovations may find it easier to replace an old gas or oil boiler with an electric boiler, which is much less efficient than a heat pump and uses considerably more energy. The growing adoption of With electricity becoming dominant, mandating new-builds to have a solar system on their rooftops is an obvious and sensible step – one that we should make without delay.
