Rising Energy Costs: Government Schemes and Resources For Retailers
- Wed 17 August, 2022
Government Budgetary measures
- A reduction in the rate of VAT on gas and electricity from 13.5% to 9% until the 31st of October.
- A temporary reduction in the excise duties charged by 20 cent per litre of petrol, 15 cent per litre of diesel, and 2 cent in the excise duty charged on marked gas oil.
Financial Supports
- The Green for Micro programme helps prepare small businesses for the low carbon, more resource efficient economy of the future. This is a FREE programme, available to companies with up to ten employees.
- SEAI Accelerated Capital Allowance is a tax incentive ran by Revenue which encourages investment in energy saving technology. Companies that pay corporation tax in Ireland can deduct the full cost of the qualifying energy efficiency equipment from their profits in the year of purchase.
- Climate Action Voucher which will give businesses funding to come up with a personalised plan to identify how best to remove reliance on fossil fuels in their business. A €1,800 grant to develop a plan.
- SEAI Energy Audit for SMEs. Eligible companies receive a €2,000 voucher towards the cost of a professional energy audit.
Non-Financial Supports
- Climate Toolkit 4 Business allows SMEs to input some simple information and to get an estimate of their carbon footprint and a personalised action plan to reduce it. It will use this information to generate a personalised action plan and recommend those supports that are relevant to help each business reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs:
- Skillnet – Climate Ready Programme. Climate Ready offers leadership and skills support for enterprises who want to develop their operational and strategic sustainability.
- The DigiEco Programme (100% Government funded) aims to create a greater awareness of energy and resource efficiencies, improve the digital green skills of employees, increase awareness on environmental practices that can contribute towards a greener workplace and raise awareness of Climate Change.
- SEAI Energy Academy. The free online resource is designed by experts and gives businesses access to high quality energy training. Businesses can learn how to save energy and grow through energy efficiency.
Other Supports
- SEAI – Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS). The largest energy companies in Ireland are obligated to achieve energy savings targets every year. They do this by supporting energy efficiency projects in businesses and homes. Businesses can contact any supplier directly to query about support for their project.
- SEAI Energy Contracting is a ‘pay for performance’ approach to installing and operating energy technologies in your business. The option you choose influences the level of energy and cost savings guaranteed.
- SEAI – Electric Vehicles. There are a number of initiatives to move to clean transport. The level of incentive varies between fully electric vehicles and plug in hybrid electric vehicles. These incentives will reduce as the cost of electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles become equal.
- SEAI – Support Scheme for Renewable Heat. The installation grant provides funding of up to 30% of eligible costs, to successful applicants. The Operation Support/The Tariff Scheme offers ongoing operational support (a tariff) based on useable heat output in renewable heating systems, in new installations or installations that currently use a fossil fuel heating system.