22,000 Home Energy Upgrades in first half of 2023

31/08/2023

• 2023 Home energy upgrade targets  are well on track with strong delivery and demand and applications across all schemes up 41% in the first half of 2023
• Free energy upgrades for low-income households are up a significant 20% with 2,346 fully funded upgrades completed to date this year.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) published a report today giving details of the 21,727 home energy upgrades supported through Government funded SEAI grant schemes in the first half of 2023. This represents a 150% increase on the same period last year, and suggests activity is on track to meet or surpass the 37,000 upgrades target for 2023.

The standout achievements across all schemes in the first half of 2023 are:

• 21,727 retrofits have been completed so far this year, up 150% on the same period last year, with a strong pipeline of demand for the rest of the year.
• SEAI processed more than 31,500 grant applications across all schemes, up 41% on the same period last year.
• Solar PV property upgrades are up a massive 231% over last year, rising significantly following the Government's move to cut VAT.
• 7,566 homes were upgraded to a BER B2 or higher, up 210% on last year.
• 2,346 property upgrades were completed through programmes focused on homes at risk of fuel poverty, up 20% on the same period last year.
• 7,122 attic and 5,641 cavity wall upgrades were supported. This is one of the most effective ways to make a home warmer and more efficient.
• Expenditure across all schemes was €129.9m, up 121% on the same period last year.

Commenting on the report, Dr Ciaran Byrne, Director of National Retrofit at SEAI said:

"We are very pleased that overall demand has remained very strong across all schemes. Clearly, the increased grant values and new grant options introduced last year have made home energy upgrades much more appealing to homeowners. The removal of VAT on solar panels has driven significant demand on this programme and it is likely to continue into the third and fourth quarters of 2023.

On the supply side, the additional registration of five one stop shops this quarter points to continued strong interest in the longer-term economic opportunities offered. We anticipate the increased supply to further drive demand and cost competitiveness."

For the first time the report also profiles the average cost for comprehensive home energy upgrades in the first full year of operations of the One Stop Shop scheme. Across more than 300 homes already upgraded from an average BER of E1 to A3 or better, the average cost is €38,200 after grant.

For more information on Home Energy Upgrades, visit Home Energy Upgrades