Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has launched an Incubator Programme for emerging green business opportunities in the sustainable energy sector. The Programme is intended to encourage innovation in the sustainable energy sector, by supporting new small ventures focusing on clean energy technologies and services in Ireland.

The Programme has been designed to help new businesses bridge the financing gaps that often hamper the growth of small companies. Venture support is available towards incubation fees and activities including the development and mentoring of management and training. The Midlands Innovation and Research Centre at Athlone Institute of Technology is an eligible incubation centre for the Programme.

Under the first phase of the Programme SEI has awarded financial supports to four sustainable energy companies. These are:

• Renewable Power Generation which develops and operates wind powered electricity generation plants on industrial sites and resells the electricity back to the site owner.
  
  
• AirEn Services Ltd which is engaged in the development of alternate uses for on-site wind generated electricity such as CCTV camera systems for remote sites with no electrical supply, GPS monitoring equipment for freight containers, lighting for public spaces and motor-ways etc.
  
  
• ApEnvEcon which provides technical advisory services in environmental economic analysis, energy and environmental modeling, policy instruments, policy analysis and evaluation, and in the areas of sustainable energy use, transportation, air quality, and climate change.
  
  
• Eirzyme which has developed a proprietary enzyme technology, offering the potential to make the production of ethanol from renewable biomass feedstocks commercially viable.