SEAI business grants, ACA and green loans: funding energy upgrades

The SEAI Non-Domestic Microgen Grant supports solar PV for businesses, farms, public bodies, schools, community centres and non-profit organisations. For new applications made from 6 October 2026 to 6 July 2027, support is effectively 45% of cost, following a recommendation of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce.

• Systems from 1kWp to 1,000kWp can be grant-funded.
• Check the current maximum grant on seai.ie.
• The grant paid is the lower of the amount on your application summary or 45% of the invoiced cost.
• You must use an SEAI-registered Non-Domestic Microgen (Solar PV) company and sign a contract before applying.
• Your letter of offer is valid for eight months, and your installer must apply to ESB Networks for grid connection, which takes at least four weeks.
• Existing applications made before 6 October 2026 do not get the higher rate.

Most importantly, do not start works before you receive your letter of offer. If you receive more than €10,000 in government grants in a calendar year, you will also need a tax clearance certificateConfirmation from Revenue that a company's tax affairs are in order. from Revenue.

SEAI offers a range of other supports, depending on the size of your business and project:

• Energy audit voucher: €2,000 towards an audit by an SEAI-registered energy auditor, for businesses that spend at least €10,000 a year on energy at the site (excluding transport) and use less than 2.8 GWh (10 TJ) of energy a year from all sources. Under SEAI's updated criteria, effective from 12 October 2026, there is a limit of one voucher per business, and businesses above 2.8 GWh must carry out a mandatory audit instead, which the voucher cannot fund. An audit is a sensible first step.
• Business energy upgrades (rapid approval): grants for set upgrades such as solar PV and thermal, building fabric, and heating and cooling.
• Tailored supports: for larger projects, with a grant covering a percentage of eligible costs.
• EXEED Grant Scheme (capital supports): up to 40% of eligible costs, to a maximum of €3 million per project, mainly for large energy users.
• Electric vehicle grants for business vans, and support for renewable heat. Our van finance page explains how companies fund vans generally.

Some Local Enterprise OfficesOne of a network of 31 local offices, based in local authorities, that act as a first stop shop for small businesses and entrepreneurs in Ireland. also run an Energy Efficiency Grant for small businesses that have completed a Green for Business review, GreenStart or SEAI energy audit. LEO Fingal, for example, lists support of up to €10,000 covering up to 75% of eligible costs. Check with your own LEO for its terms; our Local Enterprise Office grants guide explains how LEO grants work.

Accelerated Capital Allowances (ACA) are a tax incentive, not a grant. Normally, the cost of plant and equipment is written off over eight years through wear and tear allowances. With ACA, a company can deduct the full cost of qualifying energy-efficient equipment from its profits in the year of purchase.

• The equipment must be on SEAI's Triple E register during the accounting period in which it is first provided. Check before you buy.
• It must be new, used in your trade, owned by the business, and not leased, let or hired to anyone else.
• Spending must meet the minimum amount for the relevant technology class.
• For electric and alternative fuel vehicles, the qualifying cost is capped at €24,000.
• Companies claim on the corporation taxThe tax Irish-resident companies pay on their profits. return (Form CT1); no prior approval is needed.
• Finance Act 2025 extended the scheme to 31 December 2030.

How ACA interacts with your chosen finance, for example hire purchase compared with leasing, depends on the agreement and your tax position. Leased equipment cannot qualify for the ACA, and our guide to finance lease vs operating lease explains the two main types of lease. Ask your accountant before you sign.

The Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland offers State-backed lending through participating lenders, with extra benefits for green projects.

SBCI green discount under the GSLS

On 12 October 2026, the Government doubled the GSLS to €1 billion, open until 30 June 2029 or until fully subscribed. At least 30% of lending is aimed at environmental sustainability, and qualifying climate action and sustainability loans get an extra 0.25% interest discount.

• Loans of €25,000 to €3 million over 7 to 10 years.
• Unsecured up to €500,000, subject to certain exceptions. Loans above €500,000 may need security, at the lender's discretion; any personal guaranteeA legally binding promise by a director or other individual to repay a company's debt if the company cannot. is capped at 20% of the loan.
• Example green projects include building upgrades, insulation, replacement windows, LED lighting, electric vehicles and charging points.
• You need an SBCI eligibility codeA reference number issued by the SBCI, after a short online application, confirming that a business meets the basic criteria for a scheme such as the Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme., valid for six months, then apply directly to a participating lender: AIB, Bank of Ireland and PTSB, with Close Brothers and Finance Ireland due to start taking applications (announced 12 October 2026).

Green Transition Finance

For larger projects, SBCI Green Transition Finance offers €500,000 to €5 million over up to 10 years, for projects such as industrial energy efficiency, renewable energy and green building renovations that meet InvestEU criteria.

Outside the State schemes, many lenders offer green business loans or asset financeAn umbrella term for funding used to acquire vehicles, plant, machinery, equipment or technology, where the asset itself usually acts as security. for energy projects. Options include:

• Green term loans: a loan over several years for a full project, sometimes with a lower rate for qualifying green purposes.
• Hire purchase: you pay for equipment such as solar panels, heat pumps or electric vans in instalments, and own it at the end.
• Leasing: lower payments but you do not own the asset; check whether this affects grant or ACA eligibility.
• Short-term bridging: covers the full upfront cost until the grant is paid.

Lenders will look at the company's trading historyHow long a company has been actively trading, and the record of that trading shown in its filed accounts, bank statements and tax returns., cash flow and existing borrowing. All finance is subject to status and lender approval, and rates and security requirements vary.

1. Get an energy audit, using the €2,000 SEAI voucher if your company qualifies (one voucher per business, for sites spending at least €10,000 a year on energy and using under 2.8 GWh a year), to see which measures pay back fastest.
2. Choose measures and get quotes from SEAI-registered contractors where a grant requires them.
3. Check equipment against the Triple E register if you plan to claim ACA.
4. Apply for any grant and wait for the letter of offer before starting works.
5. Work out the net cost after the grant and plan how you will cover the full cost until the grant is paid.
6. Arrange finance: an SBCI eligibility code and an application direct to a participating lender, a green loan or hire purchase. Our grants and State supports guide lists other schemes.
7. Complete the works, submit grant documents promptly and keep records for your accountant.
8. Claim ACA on your corporation tax return where it applies.

Energy projects often go wrong for avoidable reasons. Watch out for these:

• Starting works, or paying a deposit that commits you, before the grant letter of offer arrives.
• Using a contractor who is not on the relevant SEAI register, which can make the project ineligible.
• Buying equipment that is not on the Triple E register, then finding it does not qualify for ACA.
• Choosing a finance agreement without checking whether it affects grant or ACA eligibility.
• Underestimating the time needed for ESB Networks connection approval, SEAI inspections and grant payment, which SEAI says can take 4 to 6 weeks after documents are received if no inspection is needed.
• Forgetting that grants are capped and paid after completion, leaving a cash flow gap.
• Letting a letter of offer expire. Solar PV offers are valid for eight months.

A short planning session with your accountant and installer, and an early conversation with your lender, before you sign anything can prevent most of these problems.

Welcome Finance does not arrange SBCI loans. If your company needs a short-term or working capital loan to cover costs until an SEAI grant is paid, our panel of specialist non-bank lenders may be able to consider it. Tell us what your company needs and we'll tell you honestly whether our panel can help, or where to apply instead. We are paid commission by lenders. We do not charge your company a fee and never ask for payment upfront. Welcome Finance is a commercial finance broker, not a lender, is not regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, and arranges business-purpose finance only for companies registered in Ireland (LTD, DAC, PLC, ULC).

Below is a short summary of each energy support: the SEAI grants, the tax allowance for energy-efficient equipment and the SBCI green loans. For who can apply and how, follow the link under each one to its full details on our Grants and supports page. The Local Enterprise Office Energy Efficiency Grant and Green for Business are covered in our Local Enterprise Office guide.

Accelerated Capital Allowances for energy-efficient equipment (Revenue / SEAI)

Lets you deduct the full cost of qualifying energy-efficient equipment from your profits in the year you buy it, instead of over eight years.

How much: 100% of the cost in year one. When: You can apply at any time. Closing date: 31 December 2030.

Full details, who can apply and how to apply: Accelerated Capital Allowances for energy-efficient equipment on our grants page. Official source: Revenue / SEAI.

Green Transition Finance (SBCI)

Larger loans for SMEs and small mid-caps spending on clean energy, energy efficiency, the circular economy or zero-emission transport.

How much: €500,000 to €5 million, for up to 10 years. When: You can apply at any time.

Full details, who can apply and how to apply: Green Transition Finance on our grants page. Official source: SBCI.

Electric van grant (SEAI)

A grant off the price of a new battery electric van for businesses, public bodies and individuals.

How much: Up to €3,800 for small to medium vans; €7,600 for large 3,500kg panel vans. When: You can apply at any time.

Full details, who can apply and how to apply: Electric van grant on our grants page. Official source: SEAI.

Non-Domestic Microgen Grant (business solar PV) (SEAI)

A grant towards installing solar panels on business, farm and community premises, based on the size of the system.

How much: Set amounts by system size, e.g. €2,400 for 4 to 6kWp and €150 per kWp for 201 to 1,000kWp; standard maximum €162,600. SEAI raised the grant to an effective 45% of eligible costs for applications from 6 October 2026, for nine months; check the current maximum on seai.ie. When: You can apply at any time.

Full details, who can apply and how to apply: Non-Domestic Microgen Grant (business solar PV) on our grants page. Official source: SEAI.

Support Scheme for Energy Audits (SEAI)

A €2,000 voucher towards a professional energy audit of your business premises, which usually covers the full cost.

How much: €2,000 voucher. When: You can apply at any time.

Full details, who can apply and how to apply: Support Scheme for Energy Audits on our grants page. Official source: SEAI.