Ireland

EEOS

SME Programme

Large Industry Energy Network (LIEN)

2002 Building Regulations

2008 Building Regulations

2011 Building Regulations

2005 / 2008 Building Regulations – Buildings other than dwellings

Energy efficient boiler regulations

Accelerated Capital Allowances (AC) Public and private

VRT/Motor tax aligned with emissions

Carbon Tax

EEOS

Non-residential package (including the Large Industry Energy Network – LIEN, Electric vehicle deployment, EXEED Certified Grant scheme, Non-domestic heat pumps scheme, )

Residential package (including Better Energy Homes, Warmer Homes Scheme, Better Energy Communities, National Home Retrofit Scheme OSS, Deep Retrofit Pilot, Warmth and Wellbeing Pilot)

Public sector package (including the Public Sector Programme, Public Sector Capital Exemplars)

Materiality requirements: Standardised EEOS materiality templates include a homeowner waiver, for residential measures and a declaration of client organisation, for non-residential projects. Proxy evidence, such as a pre-works agreement, are also accepted by SEAI.

Additionality requirements: A factor of 0.91 is applied to building renovation actions to correct for the rebound effect. Deemed scores are only available for buildings built before 2011. Savings from lighting projects are only eligible if entire systems are redesigned (or if the lighting project is supported by an M&V report detailing how the system would evolve in the baseline). Electric vehicle savings are discounted over time to reflect increases in the efficiency of baseline vehicles. Randomised control trials are required before deemed scores can be introduced for behavioural actions. Scaled savings methods are developed considering the requirements of Annex V.

Calculation methods: There are 22 standardised actions available with different scores for apartments and houses and five for different types of electric vehicles. Scaled savings methods are also available for electric vehicles, lighting, pipe insulation and steam trap replacement. Most non-residential savings are calculated using metered savings.

Reporting and validation: OPs can report their data on savings (and other relevant data related to actions) on an ongoing basis through two online systems – the Project Evaluation Platform (PEP) for metered industry sector savings; and the Energy Credit Management System (ECMS) for other savings.  For actions reported through the ECMS, a broader set of documentation must be retained in case further checks are carried out by SEAI. Actions reported through the PEP require a non-residential energy credits application and an M&V report to be submitted prior to allow SEAI to sort projects according to their level of risk.

Progress monitoring: OPs target achievement is checked on an annual basis. Progress can be monitored through the online systems.

Other verifications and controls: Each OP must have a Quality Management System (QMS) aligned with ISO 9001: 2015, under which they must carry out independent and documented verification on a statistically significant and representative sample of all relevant qualifying actions implemented for the purpose of achieving its annual EEOS target, using competent experts. SEAI validates the savings, including technical evaluations, both onsite and desktop. SEAI also carries out regular audits of OPs’ QMSs.

Data on verification and controls: No data are published. In practice, all actions ultimately pass, with some requiring corrective action. Among standardised actions, around half are deemed low risk, of which a sub-sample is audited. The other half get a full desk review of their M&V report and some get a site visit.

Evaluation(s) of the scheme:  No evaluation has been published. Data on the latest annual achieved savings are published on the SEAI website: https://www.seai.ie/about/regulatory-functions/energy-efficiency-obligation-scheme/about-eeos.

5% of savings in the EEOS need to be achieved in energy poor households defined as receiving certain welfare transfers or located in RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning).

From 2023, the 5% energy poverty target also includes stricter rules on qualifying actions, including the achievement of a minimum amount of energy savings among the worst-performing homes (rated D2 or worse), bringing them up to a good quality standard (at least B2).

For more details and experience sharing, see the presentations made at the 2023 Paris workshop.