The SEAI National Energy Research Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Funding Programme invests in innovative energy RD&D projects which contribute to Ireland's transition to a clean and secure energy future.
SEAI National Energy RD&D Funding Programme
The overarching programme objectives are to:
- Accelerate the development and deployment in the Irish marketplace of competitive energy-related products, processes and systems
- Support solutions that enable technical and other barriers to market uptake to be overcome
- Grow Ireland's national capacity to access, develop and apply international class RD&D
- Provide guidance and support to policy makers and public bodies through results, outcomes and learning from supported energy projects
The programme supports innovative and targeted actions in Research, Development & Demonstration to assist in the delivery of the following:
2021 SEAI National Energy RD&D Funding Call
The 2021 Call is now closed for applications. The results of this competitive Call will be published in Q4 2021.
| Activity | Indicative Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Call Open | 16th February 2021 |
| Application Deadline | 29th March 2021 (3pm) |
| Eligibility Assessment | April 2021 |
| Technical Evaluation & Clarification | Q2/Q3 2021 (indicative) |
| Grant Award | Q4 2021 (indicative) |
SEAI is pleased to announce that the 2021 Call also involves co-funding partnerships with the Department of Transport and Geological Survey Ireland.
Who can avail of the programme
Applications will be accepted from:
- Private Enterprises
- Universities, Institutes of Technology and State Funded Research Organisations
- Public Sector Bodies
- Semi-State Bodies
Your organisation may apply to the programme individually or as part of a consortium. Applications will only be accepted by organisations based in the Republic of Ireland.
What projects are eligible
The 2021 Programme provides the opportunity for applicants to submit proposals to either a topic strand or an open strand.
Open Strand - The open strand of the Call provides an opportunity for applicants to propose projects within SEAI’s legal remit which directly address the aims and objectives of the SEAI RD&D Funding Programme Call
Topic Strand - The Topic Strand provides an opportunity for applicants to submit proposals that address the requirements of the topics outlined within the Call document.
Further details of both strands and details of thematic topics are outlined within the Call Document available in the Programme documents setion below.
Level of funding available & funding rate
Level of funding available
The level of funding available depends on the scale/type of your project. The Table below provides an overview of the typical project durations, and maximum level of funding available.
| Scale/Type | Typical Duration | Typical Maximum SEAI Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Small Scale | Up to 12 months | Up to €200,000 |
| Medium Scale | 12 - 36 months | Up to €650,000 |
| Large Scale | 36 - 48 months | Up to €1,000,000 |
| Fellowships | 12 - 36 months | Up to €300,000 |
Funding rate
EU state aid rules stipulate:
- what types of research activities are eligible for support
- which costs relating to these activities may be covered in part or in full (ranging from 25% up to 100%)
- the maximum aid intensity that may be granted for the various activities
Applicants should refer to the SEAI RD&D Budget Policy for additional information in relation to which category their project falls under. This document is available to download from the Programme documents section below.
Evaluation process and criteria
Only fully complete applications received prior to the application deadline will be considered for evaluation. Applications will be assessed under three evaluation criteria as follows:
- Excellence and Innovation (40%)
- Relevance and Impact (30%)
- Quality and Efficiency of Implementation (including value for money) (30%)
SEAI RD&D Technical Evaluator Database
In line with international best practice, SEAI assigns experts with a record of publication and/or relevant experience in specific subject areas to act as technical evaluators of applications submitted to the SEAI National Energy RD&D Funding Programme Call. A financial incentive will be provided to eligible Technical Evaluators to reimburse the time spent undertaking the reviews.
Expression of Interest
Experts may submit an expression of interest to SEAI to indicate their interest in participating in the evaluation of applications submitted to the SEAI RD&D Call.
Expressions of interest should be emailed to energyresearch@seai.ie. Your expression of interest should include:
- Your name and organisation
- Your area of expertise/experience (50 words max)
Experts who have submitted an Expression of Interest will be informed by email of the application process, which includes filling out a short application form and providing a CV. Appointed experts will be required to adhere to strict reviewer confidentiality, GDPR requirements, and to sign a Declaration of Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Form. If an expert considers they have a conflict of interest, they are asked to declare this and may not be eligible to participate in the evaluation process. In case of any doubt, please contact energyresearch@seai.ie.
Programme documents
- 2021 SEAI RD&D Call Document
- 2021 SEAI RD&D Budget Policy
- Privacy Notice
- Grant Amendment Request Form
2021 SEAI RD&D Call Document updated 24/02/21 (page 53) - clarification to confirm all applications must include a complete Budget Template
2021 SEAI RD&D Budget Policy updated 04/03/21 (page 4) - clarification on post graduate fees
2019 SEAI National Energy RD&D Funding Call
The 2019 programme call attracted great interest and as such was extremely competitive, with €11 million in funding awarded to 50 research projects. The 2019 programme was run with support from the following strategic co-funding partners: ESB Group, Gas Networks Ireland and the Geological Survey of Ireland.
2019 SEAI National Energy RD&D Awards
Other 2019 Awards
| Funding Programme | Lead Organisation | Project Title | Co-funding with |
|---|---|---|---|
|
SEAI Energy Policy Research Fellowship Programme |
University College Dublin | Development of efficient, low-carbon and renewable heat in Ireland to 2050 | |
|
SEAI Energy Policy Research Fellowship Programme |
University College Dublin | Development of the offshore wind energy sector up to 2030 | |
| ERA-Net Smart Energy Systems 2018 RegSys Joint Call |
Glasport Bio
|
Development of novel antimicrobial cocktails to mitigate GHG emissions from stored slurries and manures | European Commission |
| ERA-Net Smart Energy Systems 2018 RegSys Joint Call |
IERC
|
BEYOND: Blockchain based Electricity trading for the integration of National and Decentralised local markets | European Commission |
| ERA-Net Smart Energy Systems 2018 RegSys Joint Call |
Spatial Outlook Ltd
|
Regional Energy Demand Analysis Portal (REDAP) | European Commission |
| ERA-Net Smart Energy Systems 2018 RegSys Joint Call |
University College Dublin |
EVCHIP - Electric Vehicles Charging Platform for Community | European Commission |
2018 SEAI National Energy RD&D Funding Call
The 2018 programme is supporting more than 50 projects to the value of €10 million and recieved cross-sectoral support from the following organisations in the form of co-funding: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport; Gas Networks Ireland (GNI); the Marine Institute; and Met Éireann.
2018 SEAI National Energy RD&D Awards
Contact us
If you have any queries on the SEAI National Energy RD&D Funding Programme please contact EnergyResearch@seai.ie