Bord na Móna reveals the eight green innovation companies participating in its 2024 Accelerate Green Programme

• ACEL Energy, Voltclub Renewables, Konree Innovation, Weev, SomaTech , I/O Agri, AffinityEV and Universal Graphics announced as this year’s Accelerate Green participants
• 25 green innovators supported in the last 2 years, with 60% reporting rising profits since they participated in the programme

(L – R) Pictured are the eight Bord na Móna 2024 Accelerate Green Business Participants: Barry Sherry, ACEL Energy, Sandra Thompson, I/O Agri, Graeme Thompson, Weev, James Goldsmith, Voltclub Renewables, Raj Lyons, AffinityEV, Tony O’Callaghan, SomaTech, Margaret Rae, Konree Innovation and Barry Murray, Universal Graphics.

Bord na Móna has announced the eight rising green businesses from across Ireland taking part in its 2024 Accelerate Green Programme. This leading accelerator programme, delivered by Bord na Móna in conjunction with Resolve Partners, is dedicated to scaling early-stage enterprises, SMEs and start-ups that are leading the response to climate action and sustainability. The rollout of Accelerate Green is part of Bord na Mona’s 5 million euro commitment to support the growth of Ireland’s rising green innovator network between 2022 and 2025.

The eight companies selected to participate in this year’s Accelerate Green programme include: ACEL Energy, Voltclub Renewables, Konree Innovation, Weev, SomaTech, I/O Agri, AffinityEV and Universal Graphics. The chosen companies are based throughout Ireland and are all delivering unique green innovation that caters to a range of business needs across multiple industries in Ireland and internationally.  These industries range from renewable energy and sustainable agri-tech to EV charging and food fermentation.

As part of the programme, these eight companies will undergo a series of immersive learning sessions and mentoring workshops across eight weeks in the dedicated Accelerate Green hub in Boora, Co. Offaly. Participants will engage with a diverse range of speakers including representatives from enterprise and energy agencies, Irish corporate entities, research networks, investors, as well as gaining access to senior leaders from across Bord na Móna’s business. The participants will also gain insight into Bord na Móna’s commercial expertise and learnings as a business that has fully transitioned from Brown to Green – pivoting from a traditional peat business to a leading climate solutions and renewable energy company.

Twenty-five Irish businesses have successfully completed the programme since it first launched in 2022 and the majority of these have continued to scale their offering of green products or services in the meantime. According to research* conducted amongst previous Accelerate Green participant businesses, 60% have reported rising profits since they participated in the Accelerate Green programme and two in three participants have secured significant funding from key investors. Many of the alumni businesses have also gone on to receive prestigious industry awards due to their continued growth, innovation impact and success and a combined total of 353 jobs have been created by the participating businesses.

Speaking at the launch of Accelerate Green, Simon Coveney TD – Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said:

“I’m delighted to officially launch the 2024 Accelerate Green programme at Bord na Móna’s Accelerate Green Hub at Lough Boora and would like to congratulate the eight businesses selected to take part. The green economy offers exciting opportunities for Irish companies, and as a government we want to see innovative climate-focused businesses and entrepreneurs across Ireland succeeding and creating new sustainable employment opportunities.

“As a nation we have ambitious climate action goals in place for the end of the decade as well as our net zero emissions target for 2050. Bord na Móna’s Accelerate Green programme is supporting the green innovators that will help us to meet these goals and shape a more sustainable future for our country. I would like to wish all of the participants the very best as they begin this year’s programme.”

Tom Donnellan, Chief Executive, Bord na Móna, said:

“We are delighted to unveil the eight fantastic companies joining the Accelerate Green Programme for 2024. This year’s participants are inspiring examples of the high standard of innovation in the Irish sustainability space today.  Among the climate-focused innovations offered by these eight businesses, we have everything from sustainable farming solutions and aquaculture technology, to EV charging solutions, showcasing the way in which green innovation can create solutions for so many sectors, businesses and the wider public.

“As a company that has scaled its renewable energy and climate solutions offering significantly, we have learned a lot along the way and are keen to share our insights with these rising businesses through our Accelerate Green Programme, while also helping them to build a network of peers to support them on their individual scaling journeys. It is the success of these businesses and those that have participated in Accelerate Green to date that will help wider efforts to facilitate our transition to a low carbon, climate resilient and environmentally sustainable economy.”

Accelerate Green is spearheaded by Bord na Móna, supported by Peatlands and People (Erinn Innovation) and delivered by Resolve Partners. This programme is supported with partial funding through the Bord na Móna led European Commission funded LIFE Integrated Project ‘Peatlands and People’, an initiative that aims to support the realisation of a carbon-neutral, climate-resistant, and environmentally sustainable country.

For further information about the Accelerate Green Programme visit accelerategreen.ie

*Research was conducted December 2023 – January 2024 among the Accelerate Green alumni of 25 businesses 

Accelerate Green 2024 Business Participants: 

1. ACEL Energy: ACEL Energy offers tailored renewable solutions such as solar, battery storage, and energy management through a co-ownership model, allowing its clients to transition to a Green Economy without investing capital. Based in Monaghan.
2. Voltclub Renewables: Voltclub Renewables is a renewable energy development company specialising in development, sourcing, financing, and construction of renewable energy projects in Ireland, as well as supporting businesses in powering their operations sustainably, cost-effectively, and for the long term. Based in Dublin.
3. Konree Innovation – Konree Innovation is a marine deeptech company focused on developing technology that facilitates sustainable growth in salmon production by overcoming barriers in an environmentally conscious manner. Based in Galway.
4. Weev – Weev, Ireland’s leading privately owned EV charging network, installs public charging stations and complete EV solutions for workplaces and fleets, offering convenient and dependable charging in as little as 20 minutes for EV drivers via its extensive network. Based in Belfast.
5. SomaTech – SomaTech brings the art of solid-state fermentation to the food industry, creating sustainable ingredients for food companies enabling them to be more circular by creating high value ingredients. Based in Monaghan.
6. I/O Agri – I/O Agri offers integrated solutions for sustainable farming practices across all areas of the farming supply chain, from ventilation to heating, from milling to feeding systems, as well as data monitoring and reporting. Based in Cavan.
7. AffinityEV – AffinityEV bridges the gap between EV manufacturers and energy firms, enabling dealerships to offer customers a comprehensive, all-inclusive package when buying an EV. Based in Galway.
8. Universal Graphics – Universal Graphics provide innovative branding solutions, incorporating the latest technologies with specialization in eco-friendly high-technology printing. Based in Monaghan.

About Bord na Móna 

Bord na Móna is a climate solutions and renewable energy company that is supporting Ireland’s progress towards a climate neutral future. Bord na Móna is fully committed to the delivery of renewable energy, the development of low carbon enterprises, peatlands rehabilitation and sustainable waste management.

Bord na Móna has been serving communities across Ireland for almost 90 years. Today, the company is pioneering the expansion of its climate solutions and renewable energy offering to safeguard green energy supply for these communities in the future and support the achievement of Ireland’s renewable energy requirements by 2030.

In addition to the Accelerate Green programme, Bord na Móna’s ongoing portfolio expansion will build upon existing solutions, including the following:

• Bord na Móna supports rising green innovators and businesses across Ireland through its dedicated Accelerate Green Programme. Since launching in 2022, the accelerator programme has provided training and mentoring to a growing network of businesses that are delivering innovative, climate-focused solutions for a range of industries across Ireland.
• Bord na Móna is committed to the continued growth of its large-scale wind energy offering, adding to current onshore wind projects including Derrinlough, Cloncreen and Oweninny Wind Farms, as well as offshore wind developments like its Ocean Winds partnership.
• Green hydrogen is another key component of Bord na Móna’s renewable energy portfolio with plans in place to deliver the first green hydrogen plant in the Republic of Ireland at Mount Lucas.
• Bord na Móna is making progress in the solar energy space with the development of its Timahoe North Solar Farm, in partnership with ESB, which is progressing at pace.
• The rehabilitation of peatlands is a key priority for Bord na Móna as part of its Peatlands Climate Action Scheme (PCAS). The scheme involves the rehabilitation of approximately 33,000 hectares of the company’s peatlands, and aims to rehabilitate drained peatlands for improved climate, environmental, ecological and hydrological impacts – including the return of carbon storage that occurs naturally in wet peatlands, as well as restored biodiversity with the revival of various plant and wildlife species.
• Bord na Móna Recycling is responsible for providing customers with innovative and sustainable waste management options, from waste collection and processing to end-treatment solutions, with the goal of supporting national progress towards a circular economy.
• Leveraging biomass as a carbon-neutral energy source through its Edenderry Power Plant also forms part of Bord na Móna’s climate solutions offering, and the company now operates off 100% biomass, since the cessation of peat burning for power generation in December 2023. The complex is now delivering 99% renewable energy.

Bord na Móna builds spaces for recreation, learning and discovery across the country which are open for local communities to enjoy and as eco-tourism hubs like its Lough Boora Discovery Park consisting of 50km of walking and cycling trails, sculpture park and lakes for fishing.