PTSB and NovaUCD have opened applications for the PTSB NovaUCD Energy Futures Accelerator, a six-month programme for Ireland-based climate technology and renewable energy start-ups and scale-ups. It begins in January and is designed to help companies refine commercial plans, prepare for fundraising and build routes to market.

PTSB is a Dublin-headquartered retail and business bank that reported underlying profit before tax of €68 million and total income of €344 million for the first half of 2026, with its business banking book up 11%. NovaUCD is University College Dublin’s innovation and technology transfer centre and has supported high-technology start-ups since 2003. The programme also draws on Rinn Energy, a research centre focused on decarbonising energy systems.

The structural driver is demand for technologies that improve grid flexibility, cut emissions and support electrification across transport, buildings and industry, which is widening the range of start-ups with a route into energy markets. Applications are open to companies in renewable energy, storage, grid technologies, smart infrastructure, energy management, data and AI, electrification, sustainable transport, the built environment, the circular economy, carbon reduction and nature-positive solutions.

Participants will receive commercial mentorship, founder training, fundraising guidance, and access to workspace and business networks at NovaUCD, along with masterclasses from Rinn Energy researchers on energy technologies and market opportunities. Applications will be assessed on alignment with the energy transition, originality, environmental impact, market opportunity, evidence of progress and the strength of the founding team, and the programme ends with a showcase after six months.

Michelle Doyle, senior manager of strategic innovation partnerships at NovaUCD, said applicants “do not necessarily need to be focused exclusively on energy, but they must show a clear use case, customer opportunity or potential impact in renewable energy or the wider energy transition.” That opens the programme to software, analytics and transport ventures as well as generation and infrastructure companies.

Courtnee Kyle, head of sustainability at PTSB, said the programme “will support emerging climate technology and renewable energy businesses to accelerate their growth and foster innovation, while helping to strengthen Ireland’s clean energy sector.”

For the sector, the accelerator shows banks and universities building structured routes for climate technology companies to move from product to fundable commercial operation.