Under the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme, energy suppliers must support energy efficiency projects in businesses and homes across Ireland.

Contractor adding internal insulation to a roof

Background

SEAI is the administrator of the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS). The scheme started in 2014. It places obligations on energy suppliers and distributors to deliver energy savings. This applies to all energy types, including electricity, gas, and solid fuel.

Companies who sell large amounts of energy are known as obligated parties and they have targets under the scheme. Obligated parties offer supports to make your home or business more energy efficient. For every unit of energy saved through these projects, they achieve energy credits towards their targets. This will help Ireland to reach national and European energy saving targets.

The EEOS continues to operate in 2021 in line with previous years. There is one change, and this is that the scheme's target, and that of the Obligated Parties, is now set and must be delivered in final energy. This is a requirement of the new Energy Efficiency Directive and, following a consultation process, the Minister decided last year that the scheme for 2021 would be reported in final energy. (https://www.gov.ie/en/consultation/ac175-public-consultation-on-the-implementation-of-the-clean-energy-package/)

The residential deemed credits for 2021 have been updated and are available in the Energy Saving Credits Table in the downloads section below.

The design of the scheme for 2022-2030, outlining who should be obligated, the size of the target and how these targets will be delivered, will be decided following a public consultation process. The consultation is published on the Department's website http://gov.ie - Public Consultation on the redesign of Ireland’s Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (www.gov.ie)

Eligible measures for energy credits

​Residential sector

Homeowners can get support from any obligated party – there is no requirement for their energy supplier to provide support. For an obligated party to claim energy credits, they must support the installation in some way and they must be involved before the measures were installed.  It is recommended that homeowners contact their energy supplier or any of the other obligated parties to see if they are willing to provide support, before works begin.

The energy saving credits table in the downloads below contains the energy credits that can be claimed for each eligible measure. The property owner must give written consent to the obligated party agreeing to assign energy credits to them. We will audit 5% to 10% of all energy efficiency measures completed under EEOS.

Eligible measures include: 

Insulation
Roof, external wall, cavity wall and floor insulation.

Glazing
Full window and external door replacement.

Heating
High efficiency boiler, solar water heating and heat pump installation.
Information
Home energy report and shower energy monitor.

Non-residential sector

In the non-residential sector, eligible measures are those applied to your business or organisation. If you are undergoing any of these measures, the obligated party will calculate the energy credits achieved in accordance with our guide on authenticating and claiming energy credits below.

As for residential measures, an obligated party can only claim energy credits from the installation of an energy efficiency measure if they supported the installation in some way and they were involved before the measures were installed.

Eligible measures include:  

Lighting
Decommissioning, maintenance, retrofit and controls.

Ventilation and air conditioning
Free cooling, maintenance, optimisation of operation and general energy management.

Transport
Eco-driving, fleet and energy management.

Heating
Servicing, set point regulation, control and fabric upgrade.

Motors, drives and pumps
Replacement, VSDs and control.

Combined heat and power
To meet 'own use' heat and electricity demand.

Refrigeration
Temperature control, pipe insulation, relocation and replacement.
Compressed air
Leak repair, optimisation, redesign and replacement.
Industry processes
Steam trap inspections, facility programmes and BMS.

Documents

Scheme guidance documents and forms

Please hover over the document name and click to download.

Document name and linkDescription
EEOS Guidance Document  The EEOS guidance is scheduled to be published by the end of March, at which point it will be made accessible here. 
Guidance on authenticating and claiming energy credits This document provides guidance on SEAI requirements for authenticating and claiming energy savings credits associated with energy efficiency projects under the EEOS. 
M&V Guidance  This link will bring you to the M&V Guidance once published.
Energy savings credits table (2022) This document outlines the residential measures that are eligible for submission towards the EEOS 2022 target year, including the corresponding energy credit amounts and minimum specifications. Note, this information is only applicable for claims towards the 2022 target year.
Cross-sector deemed scores table This document outlines the cross-sector measures that are eligible for submission towards the EEOS 2023 target year, including the corresponding energy credit amounts and minimum specifications.
EEOS support request form (public sector) This template is designed to assist organisations that require support for an energy efficiency project. The form should be filled out in its entirety and then submitted to the EEOS team. Once we have received the completed form, we will forward it to the appropriate Obligated Parties, who will then contact you directly. 
EEOS domestic submission guidance This document guides Obligated Parties on how to submit residential and energy poor energy credits to EEOS.

High level scheme documents

Please hover over the document name and click to download.

Document name and linkDescription
EEOS Regulations This link directs you to the Statutory Instruments S.I. No. 522 of 2022, which concerns the European Union's Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme. This document includes the details of the obligation scheme and the rules that need to be adhered to by the parties involved to achieve the energy efficiency targets set by the European Union.
Energy Efficiency Directive 2018

This link directs you to the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) 2018, which is an amendment to the 2012 EED. This directive lays out the regulations and responsibilities to meet the EU's energy efficiency goals set for 2030.

Public consultation on the Implementation of the Clean Energy Package

This link directs you to the public consultation that took place on the implementation of the Clean Energy Package.

Public consultation on the redesign of Ireland’s EEOS This link directs you to the public consultation that took place on the redesign of Ireland’s Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme.
Summary of responses to public consultation and policy decisions on scheme design This link directs you to a summary of the responses to public consultation and the policy decisions on scheme design.

Supporting Documentation

Please hover over the document name and click to download.

Document name and linkDescription
Cross-sector deemed scores methodology This document contains the methodology used to determine the cross-sector deemed scores under the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme. 
SEAI EEOS recommendation minimum BER uplift This is a PDF document containing SEAI’s recommendation on the minimum BER uplift for residential savings under the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme. 
Code of practice and technical specification This document serves as a reference for contractors wishing to carry out domestic energy upgrades under EEOS. It sets out the programme‐specific requirements of contractor’s practices in carrying out works supported by the Programme.

Scheme Tools

Please hover over the document name and click to download.

Document name and linkDescription
Lighting Tool & Guidance This link brings you to the lighting calculator and guidance, which has been developed for use on all SEAI-supported non-domestic lighting projects and the EEOS. It enables users to calculate energy savings for EEOS and both energy and cost savings achieved by lighting upgrade projects.
EV Savings Calculator This calculation tool allows the user to determine the amount of energy savings eligible for electric vehicles under EEOS. The methodology targets fuel switching between conventional and electric vehicles with respect to Article 7.
Steam Trap Tool & Guidance This link brings you to the steam trap calculator, which has been developed for use on all EEOS-supported non-domestic steam trap replacement projects. It enables users to calculate energy savings based on system parameters.
Pipe Insulation Tool & Guidance This link brings you to the Pipe Insulation calculator and guidance, which has been developed for use on all EEOS-supported non-domestic steam trap replacement projects. It enables users to calculate energy savings based on system parameters.

More information can be found on our Tools page.

Scheme Workshops

Please hover over the document name and click to download.

Document name and linkDescription
EEOS additionality workshop This link provides access to the slides presented at the "EEOS additionality workshop” held on the 16th of September 2021. The content of these slides includes the baseline approach, review of lighting survey, other non-residential, and proposed approach. 
EEOS 2022-2030 Calculation of EEOS targets This link provides access to the slides presented at the “Calculation of EEOS targets 2022-2030” workshop held on the 15th October 2021. The content of these slides includes the EEOS policy decisions, EEOS redesign decision recap, calculation of targets, 2021 delivery, and 2020 surpluses. 
EEOS 2022-2030 domestic savings workshop This link provides access to the slides presented at the "EEOS 2022-2030 domestic savings workshop" held on the 19th October 2021. The content of these slides includes the EEOS Policy Decisions, pre and post-BERs, minimum uplift, and the final energy credits. 
EEOS 2022-2030 domestic savings workshop This link provides access to the slides presented at the "EEOS 2022-2030 domestic savings workshop" held on the 21st of October 2021. The content of these slides includes the BER minimum uplift, uploading domestic savings, BER pathway, and homeowner advice. 
EEOS 2022-2030
Transfers and trades workshop
This link provides access to the slides presented at the "EEOS 2022-2030 transfers and trades workshop” held on the 2nd of November 2021. The content of these slides includes the energy credits and targets, transfers and exchanges 2014 to 2020, transfers and exchanges 2030 scheme, and trading of targets. 

Contact us

Email eeos@seai.ie