EXEED Certified Grant

The EXEED grant scheme is designed for organisations who are planning an energy investment project. Grant support of up to €3,000,000 per project is available.

EXEED Certified grant

SEAI provide grant support for projects which are following the EXEED Certified standard for Excellence in Energy Efficient Design.

The EXEED standard encourages innovation in design projects to help future-proof the investment, by

optimising energy performance,
reducing operational energy costs and carbon emissions,
improving competitiveness and
demonstrating commitment to sustainability, which could also bring a reputational boost.

Find out more about the EXEED Certified standard

Who can apply

This scheme is open to all organisations planning an investment in an energy project. This includes:

new design projects
major renovation and major energy upgrades of existing buildings and assets

SEAI have developed a model contract to support ESCO (Energy Service Company) arrangements under the EXEED Certified Grant scheme, while ensuring SEAI’s obligations under State Aid are managed appropriately.

Please see the Documents section below to view the SEAI EXEED ESCO Contract Template and the supporting Explanatory Note.

Grant amounts available

The scheme provides funding towards implementing the EXEED Certified process. This includes professional services and additional capital required.

Expenditure type	Large company	Medium-sized company	Small company
Pre-investment professional services to implement EXEED processes Design-stage processes set out in the EXEED Certified standard Strategic input from an independent Energy Efficient Design Expert To identify the investment opportunities which will deliver optimum energy performance	Up to 50% grant	Up to 60% grant	Up to 70% grant
Eligible expenditure to implement EXEED processes Incremental capital costs compared to counterfactual investment (Baseline design) Professional services associated with implementation	Up to 30% grant	Up to 40% grant	Up to 50% grant

Expenditure type

Large company

Medium-sized company

Small company

Pre-investment professional services to implement EXEED processes

Design-stage processes set out in the EXEED Certified standard
Strategic input from an independent Energy Efficient Design Expert
To identify the investment opportunities which will deliver optimum energy performance

Up to 50% grant

Up to 60% grant

Up to 70% grant

Eligible expenditure to implement EXEED processes

Incremental capital costs compared to counterfactual investment (Baseline design)
Professional services associated with implementation

Up to 30% grant

Up to 40% grant

Up to 50% grant

How to apply

The application process is structured into two stages:

Design stage
Capital investment stage

It is not necessary to request support at both stages but it is a requirement that you achieve EXEED certification following completion of the project. Please read the EXEED Grant Scheme Guidelines for full information on the application process.

Click below to open the online Application Form. A read-only PDF version of the Stage 1 and Stage 2 application forms can be found in the Documents section below, for information, along with an instructions guide.

We are open for applications year-round.

Apply for an EXEED grant

2023 grant timelines

The EXEED Certified Grant Scheme Programme is open for applications up until 5pm on the 22nd December 2023.
The EXEED programme can support projects submitted in 2023 with a completion date up to 1st October 2024.
The evaluation process is typically expected to take up to 3 weeks at Stage 1 and 4-8 weeks at Stage 2 (may be longer for grants of €1,000,000 and above).

The EXEED grant scheme was approved for a three-year cycle following its re-launch in January 2021. This cycle finishes at the end of 2023, and following a review process the support model for 2024 and beyond will be determined.

Key requirements

The top management of your organisation must commit to EXEED Certified and all requirements of EXEED Certified must be implemented. A 10% retainer (capped at €30,000) will be applied to the grant amount until EXEED certification and verification of the energy savings is completed.

What qualifies as incremental capital costs?

For a new design project or major renovation project

Eligible capital expenditure is the incremental investment over the baseline design.

For major energy upgrade projects

Eligible capital expenditure may be the full retrofit costs, however, these will have to be assessed on a case-by-case basis. A counterfactual may apply, for example, if equipment is being replaced at end of life. Further details are provided in Section 5 of the EXEED Grant Scheme Guidelines.

EXEED Webinars

Watch our EXEED Webinars below.

Please see the link to our YouTube playlist which includes the following webinars:

EXEED Grant Scheme Audit and Inspection Process
EXEED Stage 1 Grant Payment Process

Watch our EXEED Webinar playlist on YouTube.

Documents

High level scheme documents

Please hover over the document name and click to download.

Document name and link	Description
Overview of EXEED Scheme Changes	This is a high-level overview of the changes to the EXEED Grant Scheme from relaunch in January 2021 to the most recent changes published in March 2023. Significant improvements have been introduced, building on learnings from the previous phase and stakeholder feedback. Some changes have also been made to better align the scheme with policy and value for money objectives.
EXEED Grant Scheme Guidelines	This is a comprehensive document setting out full details of the scheme, including eligibility criteria, timelines, funding available and grant payments information.
SEAI EXEED ESCO Contract Template	SEAI have developed this model contract to support ESCO arrangements under it’s EXEED Certified Grant scheme, while ensuring SEAI’s obligations under State Aid are managed appropriately.
Explanatory Note for SEAI EXEED ESCO Contract	Explanatory Note for SEAI EXEED Grant Scheme Approach to ESCOs.
EXEED Process Diagram	One page diagram showing the EXEED Certified process and some key aspects of the grant scheme.
EXEED Privacy Notice	This document contains SEAI’s privacy policy for the EXEED Certified grant scheme
EXEED FAQs	We have compiled this list of frequently asked questions received since January 2021. If you are unable to find the answer to your question(s) here, get in touch with us and we will be happy to help. We intend to keep this document updated with any new questions received.

Grant operational scheme documents and forms

Please hover over the document name and click to download.

Document name and link	Description
EXEED Stage 1 Application Form (read-only)	This is a read-only PDF version of the EXEED Stage 1 Application Form, for information purposes only. Formal applications must be made using the online version of the Application Form.
EXEED Stage 2 Application Form (read-only)	This is a read-only PDF version of the EXEED Stage 2 Application Form, for information purposes only. Formal applications must be made using the online version of the Application Form.
EXEED Application Form Instructions	This is a comprehensive instructions manual to assist applicants with completing the Application Form.
Declaration of Solvency	This form must be completed and submitted as part of an EXEED Stage 1 or Stage 2 grant application.
Declaration of Financial Resources	This form must be completed and submitted as part of an EXEED Stage 1 or Stage 2 grant application.
Declaration of SME Qualification	For SMEs only: this form must be completed and submitted as part of an EXEED Stage 1 or Stage 2 grant application. In cases where this form is not provided, the maximum grant available will be 50% at Stage 1 and 30% at Stage 2.
Stage 1 Multiple Buildings Form	Stage 1 only: This form is required in cases where an EXEED Stage 1 application relates to multiple buildings within one site.
Declaration of Incentive Effect	This form must be completed and submitted as part of an EXEED Stage 2 grant application.
Stage 2 Multiple Buildings Form	Stage 2 only: This form is required in cases where an EXEED Stage 2 application relates to multiple buildings within one site. Note that the Stage 2 Multiple Buildings Form and the EXEED Technical Workbook are part of the same workbook. Each is on one tab. Applicants which have multiple buildings are encouraged to complete both tabs of the workbook rather than submitting two separate workbooks.
EXEED Technical Workbook	This spreadsheet must be completed and submitted as part of an EXEED Stage 2 grant application. It collects information about the baseline specification and proposed specification for each opportunity. There is a second tab for Multiple Buildings - this is only required for Stage 2 applications which have multiple buildings within one site.
Lighting Calculation Tool	This lighting tool has been developed for use on all SEAI-supported non-domestic lighting projects and the Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS). It enables users to calculate energy and cost savings achieved by lighting upgrade projects.

Templates and additional guidance documents

Please hover over the document name and click to download.

Document name and link	Description
EXEED Project Execution Plan Template	This template is recommended for use when applicants are completing the Project Execution Plan as part of the EXEED studies phase of the project.
EXEED Energy Balance Study Template	This template is recommended for use when applicants are completing the Energy Balance Study as part of the EXEED studies phase of the project.
EXEED Challenge and Analyse/ESR Template	This template is recommended for use when applicants are completing the Challenge & Analyse process as part of the EXEED studies phase of the project. It also includes a template for the Energy Saving Register where all opportunities identified should be recorded.
EXEED Certified Requirements Additional Guidance Document	This document contains additional guidance information relating to EXEED Design, Verified, and Managed Certification.