GreenPlus
| Under Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) (2021-2026), projects supporting the digital and climate transition of enterprise are being funded through the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility. This covers projects that will facilitate emissions reductions as part of a decarbonisation plan. |  |
Overview
A GreenPlus project is a medium-scale training project facilitated/supported by an external environmental expert. The aim of the project shall be to develop a high level of environmental management capabilities, drive environmental efficiencies and achieve improved sustainability by establishing and embedding continuous improvement systems and behaviours. This will increase the agility and resilience of client companies to climate change impacts.
Eligible activities include developing a comprehensive climate change and sustainability plan and aligning to international standards and frameworks.
In order to support the change process within the company, the grant can also be used to cover part of the salary cost for up to 10 company green project team members over the project duration. The goal of the project team members is to develop and implement environmental best practice within the company by learning themselves and subsequently training others in environmental improvement tools and techniques. The project team members will be responsible for driving continuous environmental improvement and efficiency.
Projects may vary in size and scope but will typically be 12 months in duration.
GreenPlus is is funded under the Climate Planning Fund for Business, which is operating under the Green Transition Fund. The overall objective of which is to accelerate the decarbonisation of Irish enterprise, as part of Ireland’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, funded by the European Union.
Am I eligible?
GreenPlus is open to SME’s and large companies that are Enterprise Ireland clients.
If you are interested in becoming an Enterprise Ireland client, please click here.
HPSU clients in receipt of Enterprise Ireland Investment funding are not eligible for a period of 3 years after the investment.
Discuss with your Development Adviserto check whether it is open to your company.
If you are not a client of Enterprise Ireland and employ less than 10 employees, you should contact your Local Enterprise Office.
What costs are eligible and what is the maximum funding available?
Eligible costs include;
- External Training or Advisory Services provided by a suitable Service provider. Supported daily rates for Training or Advisory Services are capped at €900 per day inclusive of travel and subsistence and all out-of-pocket expenses. Note that actual costs to the company are based on market rates and may be higher.
- Salary cost of up to 10 company green project team members, up to 50% of the total project cost, subject to a maximum of 100 days each at a maximum supported rate of €200 per day.
- Training course fees may be approved for specialised external courses that support the project goals. Training courses should be less than 30 days in duration.
For more information including eligible activities, download GreenPlus Assignment Guidelines
Ineligible costs include;
- General Consultancy including Market research, IT implementation, Financial review and planning, HR consulting or Health and Safety training.
- Capital equipment, materials or travel and subsistence costs.
- Energy audits by companies already required to carry out an energy audit under the Energy Efficiency Directive.
- If project is focussed on Energy Efficiency Design, company will be directed to apply to SEAI (EXEED; Stage 1).
Maximum Funding;
Enterprise Ireland will provide grant funding for 50% of the eligible project costs up to a maximum of €100,000 (€50,000 grant).
Environmental Compliance and Do No Significant Harm
All projects supported under the Climate Planning Fund for Business must comply with relevant EU and national environmental legislation and in particular with the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
Specifically the following projects are not eligible:
- activities related to fossil fuels, including downstream use1;
- activities under the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) achieving projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not lower than the relevant benchmarks2;
- activities related to waste landfills, incinerators3 and mechanical biological treatment plants4; and
- activities where the long-term disposal of waste may cause harm to the environment.
1 Except projects under this measure in power and/or heat generation, as well as related transmission and distribution infrastructure, using natural gas, that are compliant with the conditions set out in Annex III of the ‘Do no significant harm’ Technical Guidance (2021/C58/01).
2 Where the activity supported achieves projected greenhouse gas emissions that are not substantially lower than the relevant benchmarks an explanation of the reasons why this is not possible should be provided. Benchmarks established for free allocation for activities falling within the scope of the Emissions Trading System, as set out in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/447.
3 This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in plants exclusively dedicated to treating non-recyclable hazardous waste, and to existing plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency, capturing exhaust gases for storage or use or recovering materials from incineration ashes, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.
4 This exclusion does not apply to actions under this measure in existing mechanical biological treatment plants, where the actions under this measure are for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency or retrofitting to recycling operations of separated waste to compost bio-waste and anaerobic digestion of bio-waste, provided such actions under this measure do not result in an increase of the plants’ waste processing capacity or in an extension of the lifetime of the plants; for which evidence is provided at plant level.
What are the call close dates?
There are no call close dates. The process is not competitive and is approved by Enterprise Ireland management.
How do I apply?
All applications for funding should be discussed with your Enterprise Ireland Adviser prior to submission.
You can apply via the Enterprise Ireland Online Application System:
APPLY HERE
The online application forms provide a step-by-step guide on how to complete each tab.
Companies will be required to provide their organisational carbon footprint as part of the application process either through completion of the Climate Toolkit 4 Business Carbon Calculator, GHG Protocol Corporate Standard, ISO 14064-1 Standard or similar.
A Training Plan is also required for a complete application. The training plan is emailed to green@enterprise-ireland.com
Prior to applying you must do the following:
If the company has already initiated a GreenPlus project before submitting an application to Enterprise Ireland, the application and associated expenditure will not be accepted.
Where can I find a suitable consultant/trainer?
A directory of service providers interested in undertaking assignments under the Green Offer is maintained by Enterprise Ireland. The directory holds a profile provided by each service provider on their expertise and experience with environmental projects. A company may select a service provider from this directory, or it may select a consultant/trainer who is not. In either case, before the company applies for funding, sufficient information must be provided to Enterprise Ireland to demonstrate that the proposed consultant/trainer is qualified to carry out the proposed work and has previously carried out similar assignments satisfactorily. Service providers can apply for consideration to be added to the directory. Inclusion in the directory will be based on their experience and expertise.
Please ensure you carefully read the Guidelines to use the Directory (.docx) prior to selecting from the list of service providers.
Enterprise Ireland does not give any warranty, either express or implied, as to the qualifications or suitability of any of the persons on the list of service providers and Enterprise Ireland will not be liable for any loss and/or damage caused by a company’s decision to retain the services of such a service provider.
Claims Process
If you have completed a GreenPlus project, details on the Claims process are available here
Key contact/more information
GreenPlus Assignment Guidelines and Green Offer Reference Document for more information on eligible activities, and the application and claims process
GreenPlus Application - this is for information purposes only, apply via the Enterprise Ireland Online Application System
GreenPlus Training Plan – the training plan is emailed to green@enterprise-ireland.com
More information on the Green Offer is available here
