What an energy audit costs in Ireland
For most small and medium businesses, nothing out of pocket. The SEAI voucher is €2,000, and the SEAI's own analysis says that covers an in-depth audit for a business spending up to €50,000 a year on energy.
If you qualify for the SEAI voucher
The Support Scheme for Energy Audits gives eligible businesses a €2,000 voucher. You apply, the voucher is issued to you by email, and the auditor is paid by the SEAI once the report is done.
To qualify you need to be an SME (or another non-obligated organisation), spend at least €10,000 a year on energy at the premises, be tax compliant and registered in Ireland. It is one voucher per organisation.
The SEAI does not set the price of the audit. For businesses spending over €50,000 a year on energy, a larger site may cost more than €2,000 to audit properly, and you top up the difference. The SEAI recommends getting three quotes in that case.
If you do not qualify
Large companies that must audit under the Energy Efficiency Directive pay for the audit themselves. The cost depends on the number of sites, the number of energy sources, the complexity of the plant and the data available. A business with good half-hourly data and a clear asset list costs less to audit than one with estimated bills and nobody who knows the plant.
What you should get for the money
A good audit report, whoever pays for it, gives you:
- A breakdown of where the energy goes, by fuel and by major use
- Every measure worth doing, with the cost, the annual saving and the payback
- The measures ranked so you know what to do first
- Which measures are grant-eligible
- A baseline you can measure future savings against
How long it takes
Under the SEAI scheme the site visit typically takes half a day to two days, depending on the size of the site, and the report is due within ten working days of the visit. The voucher is valid for eight months.
Common questions
How much does a commercial energy audit cost in Ireland?
For SMEs spending at least €10,000 a year on energy, the SEAI voucher of €2,000 usually covers the full cost. The SEAI says an in-depth audit for a business spending up to €50,000 a year on energy is unlikely to cost more than €2,000. Larger sites and obligated companies pay more, depending on size and complexity.
Is an energy audit worth it for a small business?
If the voucher covers it, yes: you get a costed list of savings for little or no outlay. Even without the voucher, an audit usually identifies no-cost and low-cost measures worth more than its price within the first year.
Do I pay the auditor and claim the money back?
No. Under the SEAI scheme you hand the voucher to the auditor, and the SEAI pays the auditor directly. You only pay the auditor if the agreed price is above €2,000.
Want this applied to your building?
Start with an energy audit. If you spend over ten thousand euro a year on energy, the SEAI grant covers most of the cost.