Dr Ciaran Byrne, Director, SEAI on Ireland's Retrofitting Success Stories, Challenges and Opportunities

In this enlightening episode of the Constructive Voices Podcast, Jackie De Burca talks to Dr. Ciaran Byrne, the Director of National Retrofit in Ireland. He offers invaluable insights into the country’s experience to date and the future of retrofitting in Ireland. About Dr Ciaran Byrne Dr. Ciaran Byrne is currently the Director of the National Retrofit Directorate in Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). In this position, his key priority is to build the National Retrofit Directorate within SEAI and design the business and financial model capable of mobilising the effective delivery of over 60,000 BER B2 retrofits per annum from 2026 onwards towards 2030. This is to ensure Ireland’s 2030 targets for CO2 emission reduction from the domestic residential sector can be achieved. These targets will be achieved through a network of ‘One Stop Shops’, creating a national demand for retrofit amongst homeowners, through marketing, addressing operational bottlenecks, developing smart finance options and raising awareness of the multiple benefits of undertaking a retrofit. In addition, Dr. Byrne is responsible for scaling several other SEAI programmes including the individual energy grant scheme, the fully funded Warmer Homes grant scheme and the Solar PV scheme to ensure they all contribute, at scale, to Ireland’s CO2 emission reduction targets. Another priority is activating Sustainable Energy Communities, SEAI’s education and outreach programme and the wider supply chain to build awareness of retrofit and ensure appropriately skilled labour is available to deliver Ireland’s retrofit ambition. Prior to joining the SEAI, Ciaran held CEO roles in two other Irish State Agencies between 2008 and 2020. Ciaran is a qualified management accountant and served his time working in industry, where he gained a deep understanding of business, and the importance of cost controls and focusing on core strategic objectives. Ciaran is a Chartered Director and was admitted into the Institute of Directors in 2017, and he has completed a master’s degree in business studies at University College Cork. Ciaran has a degree and Ph.D. in science from Trinity College and has authored several peer reviewed scientific publications.

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