Published on: June 17, 2025
The fourth thematic seminar of the EXPRESS Project, funded by Interreg Europe with co-funding from the European Union, brought together partners from across Europe to explore ‘Good Practices on Renewable Energy Financing and the Positive Impacts on Local Economies’.
Representatives from Finland, Hungary, France, Italy, Croatia, Poland, and Romania presented regional insights into renewable energy financing mechanisms and their socio-economic effects. Among them was Stephen Oba, EXPRESS Project Officer at the South East Energy Agency (SEEA), who delivered the Irish perspective.
The Irish Approach: Policy, Schemes, and Community Impact
Speaking on the topic ‘Financing Renewable Energy Projects and Effects to Local Economy: The Irish Perspective’, Oba outlined the progress and support systems in place in Ireland’s southeast region.
A key focus was the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS), a government initiative supporting utility-scale renewable electricity projects and providing a route-to-market pathway. Oba explained that support under RESS is allocated via competitive auctions, administered through the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), and EirGrid, the national grid operator.
Also highlighted was the Community Benefit Fund (CBF) tied to RESS, which mandates a €2/MWh contribution from electricity producers. This fund enables local communities hosting wind energy projects to derive social, environmental, and economic benefits in their locality, empower residents and strive towards sustainable development goals.
“The RESS is a cornerstone of Ireland’s strategy to reach 80% renewable electricity by 2030″.
Stephen Oba
Supporting Renewable Heat and Energy Efficiency
The presentation also spotlighted the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH), designed to help businesses shift from fossil fuels to renewable heat sources. Managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the scheme includes grants covering up to 40% of installation costs for systems like air, ground, or water-source heat pumps, as well as additional aid for related energy efficiency upgrades.
Oba emphasised that this support enables businesses to reduce emissions while contributing to national decarbonisation goals.
Additionally, the seminar addressed Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs), innovative financing tools allowing entities to adopt renewable heating systems such as biomass or biogas boilers with minimal upfront investment.
Case Studies and Policy Recommendations
Oba concluded his presentation with case studies from Watershed Leisure Centre and Kilkenny Machinery Yard, showcasing successful renewable energy implementations. He also proposed some policy improvements to the existing government initiatives:
- RESS: Reconsideration of ‘100% community-ownership’ definition of community-led renewable projects to a feasible option (e.g., 70%) and simplified governance structures for smaller Community Benefit Funds.
- SSRH: Remove installation limits, extend eligibility to sectors under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), and reduce the tariff duration to accelerate progress toward Ireland’s 24% RES-H (Renewable Energy for Heating) target by 2030.
The EXPRESS seminar reinforced the importance of collaborative learning across Europe and highlighted how integrated financing strategies can support local economies while accelerating the clean energy transition.
About EXPRESS
EXPRESS seeks to increase energy self-sufficiency of participating regions and their share of renewable energy. Find out More
