Irish clean-energy projects secure €3.5M to boost home renovations and construction skills

Two Irish initiatives, HERO and BUSUnited, have been awarded almost €3.5 million in funding by the European Commission (EC) to accelerate the country’s clean-energy transition and address pressing skills shortages in the construction sector. The grants come under the EU Life Programme 2024, which supports environmental and climate action across all 27 EU member states, including projects aimed at sustainable living, biodiversity, and clean energy.

HERO (Holistic Energy Retrofit Empowerment for One-Stop Shops) is set to receive just under €1.5 million. The project aims to create a stronger national model for One-Stop Shops, improving access to finance for smaller contractors and removing bottlenecks that currently limit residential deep renovations. The funding will help double the current rate of home energy retrofits in Ireland, which is currently lagging behind the national target of 500,000 retrofits by 2030.

BUSUnited, awarded just under €2 million, tackles the shortage of skilled workers in the construction and retrofit industry. The project will bring together over 400 stakeholders from public bodies, training organisations, industry, and civil society to upscale and reskill the workforce needed to deliver energy-efficient buildings both in Ireland and across Europe.

These investments reflect the growing focus on developing infrastructure and workforce capacity to meet Ireland’s clean-energy ambitions. The EU Life Programme provides co-financing for projects ranging from €1 million to €5 million, with larger integrated initiatives eligible for higher funding.

Irish organisations are also increasingly pursuing partnerships to strengthen capabilities in clean energy. Limerick-based Full Stack Energy is expanding into the US with Massachusetts consultancy Skipping Stone to tackle challenges in decarbonisation and distributed energy management. Meanwhile, Aviva Investors has partnered with Astatine to develop a platform funding renewable energy projects in Ireland and across Europe.

Learn how HERO and BUSUnited are driving Ireland’s energy transition and addressing workforce challenges.