Capital Fund For Better Energy Scheme

Energy Minister, Pat Rabbitte TD,  has announced the launch of a  capital fund to support  sustainable energy investments  in the public, commercial,  industrial and community sectors  The fund will see €7.5 million  made available for projects that  support energy performance  contracting, which is a key  element of Ireland’s National  Energy Efficiency Plan.  Public sector projects are  particularly encouraged in order  to assist in meeting the 33%  public sector energy efficiency  improvement target in 2020.  The Better Energy Workplaces  programme disbursed €11 million  in 2011 to co-finance 85 projects  in the public, commercial,  industrial and community sectors.  This leveraged additional  investment of €34 million,  securing estimated savings of  270GWh and abatement of  63,000 tonnes of CO2. Estimated  annual monetary savings are  €11million, effectively repaying  Government funding within 12  months.  Minister Rabbitte stated: “Building  on the success of previous  schemes, this fund will ramp up  the competitiveness of Irish  business by delivering real  savings in an affordable way for  both public and private enterprise.  This is a timely example of  organisations in Ireland working  towards best practice in energy  efficiency to deliver real benefits  in all sectors of our economy.”  Applications for funding will be  evaluated on a competitive bid  basis, with the scheme open now.  Successful applicants will be  notified in June.  Visit www.seai.ie/grants for  further information.