Ireland has set itself an ambitious target: retrofit 500,000 homes to a B2 energy rating by 2030.
To meet that mandate, the country needs to deliver an average of 75,000 B2-equivalent upgrades every year from 2026 onwards. In 2023, just 1,336 deep retrofits were completed nationally.
The gap between where we are and where we need to be is enormous – and closing it will require a new approach.
The Contractor Gap
More than 1,600 contractors are registered with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for shallow energy measures, yet only 28 are approved as One-Stop Shops (OSS), the bodies authorised to manage deep retrofit grants.
The barrier is not skill or willingness. Becoming an SEAI-approved OSS is costly and complex, demanding IT systems, administrative resources and quality management processes that most small local contracting firms simply cannot afford.
The result is that trusted local builders are locked out of the deep retrofit market — unable to offer the very grants that make deep retrofits viable for homeowners.
Introducing HERO-OSS
REIL is launching the HERO-OSS project to remove that bottleneck. Rather than competing with local builders, we are acting as a market multiplier through a White-Label OSS service.
Trusted local contractors will be able to offer a full OSS-level service under their own brand, backed by REIL’s proven infrastructure.
Through the partnership, contractors gain:
- OSS Grant Access – offer deep retrofit grants without holding independent OSS accreditation.
- Handholding Mentorship – dedicated experts guide every project from energy assessment to grant drawdown.
- Advanced IT Systems – a modular, white-labelled CRM, project management and QA platform, branded with the contractor’s identity.
- Quality Assurance – independent audits of all works, protecting homeowners and contractor reputations alike.
Trusted Local Finance
Research shows 49% of homeowners who decline a retrofit cite cost as the primary barrier, and homeowners overwhelmingly prefer local contractors and local financing.
Credit Unions remain Ireland’s most trusted financial institutions and the preferred partner for residential retrofits.
Under the HERO-OSS model, contractors are trained on standardised guidelines to raise awareness of Credit Union financing.
The loan agreement remains directly between the homeowner and the Credit Union, while HERO-OSS ensures the retrofit workflow and grant requirements align seamlessly with the loan process.
REIL Ambition
Within five years our goal is to lift the number of deep retrofits delivered in Ireland from 1,336 to 4,500 a year.
By combining REIL’s systems, the trust of Credit Unions and the reach of local builders, HERO-OSS offers the most practical pathway to meeting Ireland’s climate targets, while creating skilled local jobs in every community.
Are you a trusted local builder already offering SEAI single-measure services? We are now recruiting contractors for the HERO-OSS pilot programme – your opportunity to step into the deep retrofit market under your own brand, with REIL’s systems, mentorship and grant access behind you.
Complete your details here to register your interest, and a member of the REIL team will be in touch to discuss the next steps.