Energy Minister, Pat Rabbitte T.D. today announced the first tranche of exemplar energy efficiency projects to be supported by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Action Plan for Jobs. Collectively the Exemplars will invest up to €55m in energy saving measures, resulting in annual savings of €7m, and supporting over 500 jobs. Many of these projects will be eligible to avail of loan finance under the Government’s National Energy Efficiency Fund announced in February.

Of the projects detailed today are three public lighting upgrades by Fingal, Kerry and Mayo County Councils which will involve a €30m investment to upgrade almost 50,000 public lights and support 200 jobs. Other projects involve food sector companies such as Liffey Meats and Carton Bros (Manorpark Foods) where energy upgrades and subsequent savings will help to improve competitiveness and sustain jobs in Irish manufacturing. The public and commercial sector projects will test different approaches to energy service contracting and financing, including full Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) wherein payment for energy upgrades is linked to a specified energy performance improvement.

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Typically the organisations participating in the programme will outsource their projects to an energy services company or ESCO to assist in unlocking the energy saving potential which can be between 20% and 50% for any given project.

Speaking today at the launch in DCU, Minister Rabbitte said: "A critical driver in the creation of jobs in a tight economy is a combination of state and private investment pitched appropriately, professionally and efficiently at key projects that have clear deliverable benefits. I am delighted to announce 22 exemplar projects today that all appear to fit that bill perfectly. Government has set an ambitious target: to transform Ireland into one of the most energy efficient economies in Europe by 2020 – today's swathe of exemplar projects encourages me that we are on the right track."

(CD)