SEAI Community Grant

SEAI Community Grant

Funds community energy upgrade programmes in Ireland using technical support channels and regional coordination.

The SEAI Community Grant — formerly known as Better Energy Communities (BEC) — provides capital funding and technical support for community-scale energy upgrade projects across Ireland. Administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, a statutory body under the Sustainable Energy Act 2002, the scheme upgrades homes, community buildings, and businesses within the same community project, enabling a holistic approach to neighbourhood-level energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment.

Access to the scheme is exclusively through SEAI-registered project co-ordinators; community organisations, resident groups, and local authorities cannot apply directly to SEAI but must engage a registered co-ordinator to develop and manage the application and project delivery. This delivery-via-partner structure is a defining feature of the scheme and must be factored into project timelines. The scheme also connects to the broader Community Enabling Framework and Community Benefit Funds available through SEAI for community-led energy initiatives.

The programme operates on a rolling basis with no fixed annual deadline, allowing communities to begin planning with a registered co-ordinator at any point in the year. Award amounts and grant percentages are not publicly specified in advance and are evaluated as part of the application. Organisations interested in applying should first identify a SEAI-registered community project co-ordinator, as listed on the SEAI website, since co-ordinator engagement is a prerequisite for submission. Strong projects demonstrate a coherent community boundary, a mix of building types, and measurable energy savings.