Accelerate Green: Pioneering Sustainability and Business Growth in 2024

Bord na Móna is proud to launch the third year of its leading Accelerate Green programme – a dynamic accelerator designed to foster a thriving network of sustainability-focused businesses, propelling eco-friendly and green innovations to new heights both nationally and globally.

First established in 2022, Accelerate Green provides practical and meaningful support to scaling early-stage enterprises and SMEs across Ireland that are pivoting and leading the response to climate action and sustainability. Accelerate Green is an important part of Bord na Móna’s Brown to Green transition and wider commitment to support Ireland’s goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2025. 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, having gone through its own significant transformation in recent years, moving from traditional peat harvesting to delivering renewable energy solutions. Supporting this sector will be a key component of delivering against our Climate Action Plan targets.

Immersive Learning for Sustainable Success

Located at the Bord na Móna Accelerate Green Hub in Boora, Co. Offaly, this year’s participants will embark on a journey of immersive learning sessions and mentoring workshops from the end of January to June as part of the programme. The participants will hear from a diverse range of speakers including representatives from enterprise thought leaders and energy agencies, Irish corporate entities, research networks, investors, as well as gaining access to industry experts and gain insights from senior leaders from across Bord na Móna’s business. The eight participating businesses will also be supported in building their commercial expertise and business proposition, while expanding their own network of industry contacts and peers.

Bord na Móna CEO, Tom Donnellan, understands the importance of climate focused entrepreneurship and innovation. Mr Donnellan hopes the 2024 participants will draw inspiration and insight from Bord na Móna’s own sustainability journey: “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.”

Accelerate Green Impact

Since its inception, 25 Irish businesses have completed the Accelerate Green programme and the majority have continued scaling their business. Indeed 60% of past participants have reported increased profits, with two in three securing significant funding for the expansion of their business operations. Another marker of success among alumni businesses is their collective job creation with a total of 125 jobs created across all 25 businesses since completing the programme, bringing their collective employment numbers to 353. These numbers and achievements underscore the positive impact of the programme which is helping to foster growth, innovation, and job creation among rising green innovators throughout the country.

Meet the 2024 Cohort

This year Bord na Móna is welcoming eight new green businesses from across Ireland to the Accelerate Green programme. ACEL Energy, Voltclub Renewables, Konree Innovation, Weev, SomaTech, I/O Agri, AffinityEV, and Universal Graphics represent a diverse range of enterprises, spanning early-stage, SMEs and startups – each providing a standout and climate-focused solution to a range of business needs.

“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.” – Tom Donnellan, CEO, Bord na Móna

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Universal Graphics – Universal Graphics provide innovative branding solutions, incorporating the latest technologies with specialization in eco-friendly high-technology printing.