SEAI Energy Audits for SME's

SEAI's support scheme for energy audits (SSEA) offers SMEs a €2,000 voucher towards the cost of a high quality energy audit. In most cases, this will cover the total cost of the audit ex VAT.

What is it, Who can apply and how to get the grant?

Energy costs for Irish SMEs have changed sharply since 2021. The support scheme for energy audits (SSEA) is the SEAI’s response. It provides a €2,000 voucher towards the cost of a professional energy audit with a registered auditor for eligible businesses.

This voucher is paid directly to the auditor, with no cost to the business other than the VAT.

When Exemplar is selected as your auditor this covers the audit fee ex VAT.

What an SSEA audit covers?

A 12-24 month review of your electricity, gas, oil and any other fuel bills.
A site visit by a SEAI-registered energy auditor, such as Exemplar.
A SEAI formatted report with your energy breakdown, a prioritized action list, costs, paybacks and applicable grants.
A Walkthrough of the findings. The report is yours to keep and to use when seeking grants or board approval.

Who can apply? What does it cost?

The SSEA is open to most non-domestic businesses in Ireland. Exemplar has delivered audits across hospitality, retail, manufacturing, churches, community centers, schools, sports clubs, nursing homes, healthcare and agriculture.

What does it cost you?

The €2,000 SSEA voucher is paid by SEAI directly to the auditor. Where exemplar is selected as auditor, this covers the audit fee ex VAT. We will confirm that with you before you we audit.

Eligibility at a glance

Your business is a registered SME (under 250 employees and either turnover ≤ €50m or balance sheet ≤ €43m).
The site is non domestic and located in the Republic of Ireland.
You are responsible for paying the energy bills at the site.
One voucher per Applicant/Company, subject to the SEAI eligibility.
No previous SSEA-funded audit for the Applicant / Company.
Your annual energy spend at the site is at least €10,000 ex transport costs and total energy usage is less than 10TJ (~2.8GWH) including transport.

Exemplar's SSEA portfolio and Common findings

Below are some real examples and numbers drawn from SSEA audits carried out by Exemplar across a range of Irish SMEs over the last few years.

Pubs / Restaurants

Refrigeration upgrades
Variable speed air cooling
Redundant gas disconnect
Outdoor heater swap
PIR controls

Retail / Showrooms

AHU and VRF heat pumps
Occupancy controls
Rooftop solar PV with SEAI grant
LED retrofit usually already done

Manufacturing

Building management systems
Heat pump for process or comfort heat
Compressor controls
Waste heat recovery

Energy Efficiency Projects

Hotels / Nursing Homes

Hot water heat pumps
Roof-level controls
Kitchen ventilation
LED in back of house

Churches / Community

Pew or infrared heating
Vestibule auto doors
Targeted fabric upgrades

Agriculture

BMS
Dual fuel consolidation
Chiller upgrades
Dry storage solar

"Energy is a material cost for our business. Exemplar give us clarity on price, risk and timing. Their process is disciplined, transparent and commercially sound. When markets move, we understand why — and we know we’ve made the right call"

Ciara Foxton

Managing Director, Circle K Ireland

"Exemplar Energy have been a trusted partner to Coral Leisure in helping us deliver meaningful energy improvements across our facilities, supporting multiple Coral Leisure sites. Their expertise in EXEED project management, combined with their practical understanding of leisure Centre operations, has been invaluable in identifying opportunities, securing grant funding, and successfully delivering energy upgrades. As our energy partner they continue to provide the expertise and strategic guidance that helps us achieve this."

Camillus Muldowney & Ciarán Murtagh

Energy Consultant & Area Manager

"Exemplar have provided C&D foods with great service in the management and purchase of its Electricity for its Irish manufacturing site for the last 9 years. Throughout this time Exemplar have helped C&D navigate its Electricity requirements in a very volatile market. Exemplar are very proactive and front footed with their advice, which allows a very collaborative approach to securing the Electricity C&D need at a competitive rate."

Dave Jay

Group Transport and Logistic Manager

"Exemplar have provided invaluable engineering analysis and project management services for several energy improvement projects at Sam Dennigans in the past number of years, including our 1,500kW roof mounted solar photovoltaic array. We find their mix of skills, experience and professionalism an excellent fit with our organisation."

Joe Dennigan

Director

"Exemplar are the energy partner SIAC relies on to hedge and advise on their energy market exposure. Exemplar introduced us to Corporate Power Purchase Agreements as a sustainable hedging practice. We recently extended this arrangement for a longer term after being impressed by this innovative solution."

Denis Ryan

Managing Director

"The Exemplar team feel like an extension of our business. They understand our sites, our priorities, and the pressure that energy decisions carry. That makes a real difference."

Vicki Carey

Energy Team Lead