Community Energy Programmes

When Your Community Takes On an Energy Project, Someone Has to Coordinate It

Community energy groups, local development companies and residents' associations across Ireland are increasingly involved in renewable energy and retrofit initiatives. Our training helps the people leading these efforts understand what coordination actually involves.

The Community Energy Context

Local Initiatives, Real Operational Complexity

Community energy projects in Ireland — whether a local solar cooperative, a group retrofit scheme or a community wind turbine — involve the same operational challenges as commercial projects, often with fewer dedicated resources to handle them. SEAI community grant programmes have specific documentation requirements. Multiple households or community facilities need to be scheduled and coordinated. Contractors need to be managed. Quality needs to be assured.

The volunteer or part-time coordinator managing a community energy project often has no formal training in how to handle these requirements. Our training addresses this directly, providing practical skills for people in exactly this situation.

Community energy group meeting to discuss local retrofit programme in Ireland

SEAI Community Programmes

Understanding the Schemes Available to Communities

SEAI operates several programmes specifically designed for community and group energy projects. Navigating these programmes — understanding eligibility, preparing applications and managing the documentation requirements — is a core part of what our training covers.

Community Energy Grant

SEAI's community energy grant supports groups of households undertaking energy upgrades together. Coordinating a group application involves managing multiple households, a single contractor tender process and consolidated documentation — skills that benefit from specific training.

Community Buildings Upgrade

Community halls, sports clubs and local facilities can access support for energy upgrades. These projects require project management skills — scoping works, procuring contractors, managing installation and completing the required documentation for grant payment.

Community Renewable Energy

Community-owned renewable energy projects — solar installations, small wind turbines — involve planning applications, grid connection processes and ongoing operational management. Understanding the coordination requirements at each stage is essential.

What the Training Covers

Coordination Skills for Community Energy Leaders

Understanding SEAI Community Programmes

A practical overview of the SEAI schemes available to community groups — eligibility criteria, application processes, documentation requirements and what to expect at each stage of the grant process.

Organising Group Retrofit Schemes

How to manage a group of households through a coordinated retrofit process — from initial surveys through contractor selection, scheduling works and ensuring each household's documentation is complete and accurate.

Contractor Selection and Management

Running a transparent tender process, evaluating contractor proposals, managing contracts and handling the day-to-day coordination of works across multiple properties or a community facility.

Community Communication and Governance

Keeping community members informed, managing expectations, handling concerns and maintaining the governance documentation that funders and regulators may request.

Is Your Community Group Planning an Energy Project?

Contact us to discuss how our training can help the people coordinating your community energy initiative understand what the role involves and how to handle the documentation and coordination requirements effectively.

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