Energy Contracting Support Scheme

About this scheme

The Energy Contracting Support Scheme (ECSS) helps organisations fund the specialist work needed to appraise and procure pay-for-performance energy contracts, such as Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs), Local Energy Supply Contracts (LESCs) and Energy Performance Guarantees (EPGs). Funding covers up to 75% of eligible costs, capped at €50,000 for EPCs/LESCs or €25,000 for EPGs. Supported activities include preliminary energy audits, feasibility studies, risk assessments, business case development, financial analysis, legal advice, and evaluation of procurement options. It's aimed at organisations wanting to de-risk complex energy contracting projects, particularly deep retrofits, multi-technology work packages, projects spanning multiple facilities, and projects on a trajectory to net zero. Applications are accepted year-round and are typically made after an initial viability appraisal but before the final business case and contractual documentation are developed. A complete application is submitted via SEAI's Project Evaluation Platform (PEP) and is evaluated within 6 weeks, with successful applicants receiving a Letter of Offer.

Who can apply

• Open to both public and private sector organisations, including buildings, industry, commercial operations, transport and utility services
• Not available to the residential sector
• Project must incorporate a pay-for-performance element (e.g. delivered via an Energy Performance Contract, Local Energy Supply Contract, or Energy Performance Guarantee)
• Support is not limited to any specific project type or technology
• Particularly encourages: deep energy retrofit and/or decarbonisation actions; work packages comprising multiple project elements/technologies; project aggregation across multiple facilities; projects setting organisations on a trajectory to net zero; projects contributing to the energy contracting knowledge base and supply chain
• Funding covers up to 75% of eligible costs, capped at €50,000 for Energy Performance Contracts (EPC) / Local Energy Supply Contracts (LESC), or €25,000 for Energy Performance Guarantees (EPG)
• This is a De Minimis state aid scheme; a completed De Minimis Declaration is a required part of the application
• Applications accepted all year; the typical entry point is after an initial appraisal establishes project viability but before the final business case, financial analysis, detailed design and contractual documentation are developed
• Full eligibility details are set out in Section 2.4 of the ECSS Application Guidance

How to apply

1. 1Prepare a complete application, including: a completed Application Form, a Declaration of ECSS Eligibility, a De Minimis Declaration, a Declaration of Financial Resources, and (if applicable) a Letter of VAT exemption.
2. 2Upload the completed application directly to SEAI's grant evaluation site, the Project Evaluation Platform (PEP).
3. 3SEAI evaluates fully completed applications within 6 weeks of receipt.
4. 4Successful applicants receive a 'Letter of Offer' outlining the terms and conditions of the approved funding.