The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has set aside over €2.5 million in a research fund to support cutting-edge research, development and demonstration energy projects in 2018.
The funding program is open to a wide range of proposal types including technology research, development and demonstration (RD&D), field research, and feasibility studies.
For the first time, multi-annual projects up to a value of €650,000 will be funded for up to four years, SEAI said.
This will facilitate the funding of longer, larger and more impactful projects, according to SEAI.
Smaller projects with budgets of up to €100,000 and durations of up to one year can also apply for the call scheduled to go forward from next week.
Denis Naughten , Ireland’s Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, said: “This investment demonstrates the government’s commitment to advancing research and development in the energy sector and producing real results for the environment and the economy.
“Ireland faces very significant challenges in meeting our binding climate change targets and avoiding compliance costs. The SEAI RD&D Funding Program has the potential to develop new and innovative ways to understand our energy use and develop new responses to the energy challenges we face.”
The fund is open to applications from companies, research performing organizations such as universities, Institutes of Technology and publicly funded research institutions, as well as for public sector bodies who are based in Ireland.
Organizations working in collaboration are also encouraged to apply until the deadline set for late March/April 2018.
To remind, SEAI has last year invested over €2 million in RD&D projects.
SEAI is Ireland’s national energy agency which works to transform Ireland into a society based on sustainable energy structures, technologies and practices.