The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) invested a record €616m in grants and support for energy upgrades and clean energy projects last year.
The sum was a 13% increase in activity by the national energy authority in 2024.
The vast bulk of the funding, two thirds, or €420m, was allocated to 54,000 home energy upgrades.
These included upgrades for more than 7,700 homes deemed to be in energy poverty.
Energy poverty occurs when a household must reduce its energy consumption to a degree that negatively impacts the inhabitants' health and wellbeing
There was a total of 3,609 heat pump grants paid out by the SEAI in 2024.
However, almost 22,000, or 40% of the total 54,000 home upgrades, achieved a B2 energy rating or higher.
The authority also say they support the publication of 170,694 domestic and more than 5,750 non-domestic building energy ratings, a record since BERs were first introduced.
The SEAI's low interest Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme was also launched last year.
Meanwhile, just under 8.5%, or €52m of SEAI spending supported the rollout of electric cars across the country.
This included grants for 12,000 new electric vehicles and 15,400 EV home chargers.
The annual revealed that more than 3,500 businesses received grant support for energy upgrades.
The grants included energy audit vouchers, training programmes, supports for renewable heat and microgeneration, as well as the newly launched Business Energy Upgrade Scheme.
The total cost of these business grants and supports came to €62m. This was 10% of all SEAI investments during 2024.
In addition to all this, the SEAI awarded €22m in energy research grants.
It also allocated €61m to major public sector pathfinder building upgrade projects making last year a record year for home energy upgrades.
SEAI Chief Executive William Walsh said: "It is hugely encouraging to see strong engagement with Ireland’s decarbonisation journey by householders and businesses, in communities and across the public sector. But collectively we can and must do more.
"As it stands, Ireland’s emissions will exceed targets in the first carbon budget, meaning we still need to rapidly increase the rate of change to deliver on these legally binding targets.
"Solutions are in our grasp if we have the collective appetite.
"The incoming government comes at a time where we require a re-doubling of effort to realise the urgent change needed to move away from fossil fuels.
"The challenge may seem daunting, but we must focus on the combined environmental, economic, social and health benefits to propel us forward," he added.
Pic Conor McCabe Photography.
