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
Our key programme objectives include the following:
- 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:
SEAI National Energy RD&D Funding Calls - 2020 Update
The programme has undergone considerable growth over the past two years, funding more than 100 projects to the value of 21 million during 2018 and 2019. This represents a significant increase in activities relative to previous years. We are now actively working with our parent government department to determine the likely programme budget for 2021 and beyond, to support the continued growth of the programme into the future. However, at this stage it is unlikely that we will hold a call in 2020.
Please keep an eye on this website for future updates or register to our research mailing list through which we provide updates on upcoming research calls and events.
Further details of projects funded under the programme can be found in SEAI's National Energy Research Database
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: Gas Networks Ireland, ESB Group 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
Who can avail of the programme
Applications will be accepted from:
- Companies
- Research Performing Organisations (e.g. universities, Institutes of Technology and Publically Funded Research Institutions)
- 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.
Levels of funding available
The level of funding available ranges from €100,000 for projects of less than one year duration. The maximum is up to €650,000 for projects of up to four years. The table below provides a more accurate overview of the durations and levels of funding available.
| Scale/Type | Typical Duration | Typical Maximum SEAI Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Small Scale | Up to 12 months | Up to €100,000 |
| Medium Scale | 12 - 36 months | Up to €350,000 |
| Large Scale | 36 - 48 months | Up to €650,000 |
| RPO Fellowships | 12 - 36 months | Up to €250,000 |
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
Further details can be found within the SEAI RD&D Budget Policy included in the Programme documents section of this website
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%)
Programme documents
Contact us
If you have any queries on the SEAI National Energy RD&D Funding Programme please contact EnergyResearch@seai.ie