The Government has agreed to help businesses move to solar energy with grants of up to €162,500.
It follows a joint proposal from Environment, Climate and Communications Minister, Eamon Ryan and Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister, Simon Coveney, who brought a memo to Cabinet on Tuesday.
The aim of the tiered grant scheme, which is understood to range from €2,700 up to €162,500, is to help firms decarbonise.
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Grants will be available to commercial businesses of all sizes as well as public sector non-residential buildings with spending on the pilot scheme expected to hit 15 million in 2023.
Government says they will typically support 20-30 per cent of the investment cost, reducing payback to as little as five years.
The generous new grants are aimed at ramping up Ireland’s rooftop solar revolution and bridging the government’s solar strategy.
It allows for the expansion of grant supports for installation sizes up to 1,000 kWp capacity, which will help firms reduce energy prices and cut carbon.
Minister Ryan said: "This move by Government shows Ireland’s continued commitment to supporting all of our citizens, businesses and community organisations – to be part of our journey to a cleaner, cheaper and renewable energy future.
"We have removed planning permission requirements to install solar panels, and we’ve reduced the VAT to 0 per cent for the supply and installation of solar panels on homes.
"As a result, our Domestic Solar PV Scheme operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland is continuing to power ahead with record levels of applications in 2022 and 2023, resulting in approximately 60,000 homes now being registered as microgenerators.
"It is vital therefore that business are now afforded the same opportunity to start their energy transition journey. Not only is this important for individual businesses and community organisations, but with the additional challenges identified in Climate Action Plan 2023 supporting businesses to invest in solar PV will also facilitate those businesses to be able to participate in schemes that give people more control over when and how they use electricity."
Speaking after the Government meeting, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney said: "I want businesses to see the opportunities renewable energy can provide in reducing costs, reducing carbon and increasing sustainability.
"Businesses using renewables are more resilient to price volatility, and well-placed as we decarbonise our economy. This measure underlines the Government’s commitment to help businesses save money on their energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint as they contribute positively to our national climate change targets."
