Over three quarters (76%) of business leaders in Ireland believe that the government’s forthcoming Budget 2027 should introduce ‘radical supports’ to help businesses manage energy costs, new research commissioned by Techies Go Green has found.
According to the research, which was undertaken by Censuswide, more than two thirds (69%) of business leaders said that they would struggle to absorb another sharp increase in energy prices, while 43% said that higher energy bills had already impacted their profits.
In addition, energy price increases are feeding through into wider business decisions, with 28% of respondents having been forced to increase prices for consumers.
Under pressure
“When seven in 10 businesses say they would struggle to absorb another sharp increase in energy costs, the pressure they are under is clear,” commented Michael O’Hara, co-founder of Techies Go Green.
“But what’s also striking is that almost two-thirds now point to cost savings as a primary reason for sustainability investment. Businesses want to make progress, but increasingly they need to see a clear commercial return.”
Other findings from the research, which was conducted among 200 business leaders in August 2026, include that 51% of firms have either delayed or cancelled energy-related investment as a result of higher costs, while 18% say that higher energy costs have delayed recruitment.
As the research noted, the financial case for sustainability investment is a foremost consideration for businesses, with 65% of respondents identifying cost savings as a primary driver of sustainability investment, compared with 51% who cited environmental concerns.
On a sector-by-sector basis, 89% of respondents in the Food & Beverage industry, and 81% of those in Healthcare & Social Care said that they would find another sharp increase in energy costs difficult to absorb.
Smarter Energy Challenge
The findings coincide with the launch of Techies Go Green’s Smarter Energy Challenge, an eight-week programme intended to help organisations assess their energy use and identify opportunities to reduce costs and emissions.
Running from 21 September to 27 November, the programme will combine online workshops with the Smarter Energy Planner and visits to businesses using different energy systems. In addition, a full-day conference on 14 October will tackle the ‘big energy questions’ facing businesses, including energy costs, investment decisions and changes in the energy landscape.
“We want to give business owners and energy decision-makers the practical knowledge they need to understand how their energy is being used, identify where money is being wasted, assess the technologies and finance options available, and make confident investments that lower costs, cut emissions and strengthen their business,” O’Hara added.
Pictured are Michael O’Hara, co-founder of Techies Go Green with Fergus Sharkey, head of business supports at SEAI, which is supporting the Smarter Energy Challenge as platinum sponsor. Learn more about the Smarter Energy Challenge here.
