SEAI to invest €2.5m in RD&D solutions for next generation energy projects
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has announced a research fund of over €2.5 million to support cutting-edge research, development and demonstration energy projects in 2018. 
The Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Funding Programme aims to develop new energy solutions that can help our homes, businesses and communities become more energy efficient and deliver a cleaner energy future.
The funding programme is open to a wide range of proposal types, including technology RD&D, field research, and feasibility studies. For the first time, multi-annual projects up to a value of €650k will be funded for up to four years. This will facilitate the funding of longer, larger and more impactful energy projects. Smaller projects with budgets of up to €100k and durations of up to one year can also apply.
Last year, SEAI invested over €2 million in RD&D projects. Examples include:
- Exploring the application of blockchain technology in the energy sector which resulted in the development and prototyping of the SmartBlocks solution (The Nimbus Research Centre in CIT)
- Examining the growth of Ireland’s data centres, as well as identifying sustainability measures for the sector (Host in Ireland)
- Demonstrating the real-world operation of a rural battery storage network (The eStore project – Solo Energy Ltd., in partnership with DP Energy and ESB Networks)
The fund is open to applications from companies, research performing organisations (e.g. universities, Institutes of Technology and publically funded research institutions) and public sector bodies who are based in the Republic of Ireland. Organisations working in collaboration are also encouraged to apply.
See the SEAI website for further information on call details, the application closing date and relevant documentation.
Further information is available here
Source: Envirosolutions