Kilkenny-led firm to create 120 jobs over next two years

Minister Peter Burke officially opens Climeaction US HQ, with Paul Murphy (left)

placeholder image — Minister Peter Burke officially opens Climeaction US HQ, with Paul Murphy (left)

Kilkenny’s Paul Murphy to deploy €25m Industrial Decarbonisation Finance and secures Digital Agriculture Innovation Funding

One of Kilkenny’s most successful climate entrepreneurs is making waves on the global stage with his company, Climeaction set to grow its workforce substantially over the next two years.

Paul Murphy is collaborating with BVP to deploy €25 million in Green Transition Finance to accelerate industrial decarbonisation in Ireland. Mr Murphy, a native of Cuffesgrange and past pupil of Callan CBS, has also led Climeaction in securing €500,000 in Enterprise Ireland RD&D innovation funding to revolutionise agricultural sustainability through digital engagement.

Through a strategic collaboration with Business Venture Partners (BVP), Climeaction is deploying €25 million from BVP’s SBCI-backed Green Transition Finance, ensuring that Irish manufacturers can access fully funded energy efficiency and renewable energy projects without capital constraints.

Paul Murphy presents Minister Peter Burke with a pair of Boston Socks to align with VP Vance’s diplomacy approach

The initiative will support: Industrial Heat Pumps & Electric Boilers – replacing fossil-fuel heating systems for cleaner, more efficient alternatives. Large-Scale Solar PV (>1MW) – enabling factories to generate their own clean electricity and reduce grid reliance.

By overseeing design, project management, and delivery, Climeaction is eliminating financial and technical barriers, with an expected reduction of 25,000 tonnes of emissions and the creation of 25 new jobs in Ireland over the next two years.

“Many companies are eager to decarbonise, but financial hurdles hold them back. With this fund, we’re removing those obstacles and enabling industry to act now,” said Mr Murphy.

Elliot Griffin, Managing Director of BVP, added: “Climeaction is leading the way in industrial decarbonisation, and we’re confident in their ability to deploy this funding effectively. Reducing dependence on fossil fuels will improve the competitiveness of Irish business.”

Climeaction is tackling another critical challenge — engaging farmers and supply chains in emissions reductions. With €500,000 in funding from Enterprise Ireland, Climeaction is developing VSAG, a new digital platform to transform farm-level engagement in sustainability efforts.

Many industries—such as dairy, coffee, oils, soya, and cotton—struggle with low participation in sustainability programs, making it difficult to collect accurate environmental data. VSAG will provide an intuitive, mobile-based solution to simplify data collection, improve engagement, and cut auditing costs and enable data collection in regions globally where literacy rates are low.

“The current system is broken. It’s expensive, inefficient, and doesn’t work for farmers and for manufacturers. This funding allows us to change that and create a tool that delivers real impact right across the supply chain from the farm producers, through to the primary manufacturers and their customers,” Mr Murphy explained.

The innovation fund will help Climeaction create 70 new jobs in Ireland by 2027, expanding its digital, consulting, and project teams and a further 50 jobs in the United States .

“Enterprise Ireland has been a fantastic partner in our expansion, their approval of this RD&D funding demonstrates their commitment to Irish Business and innovation for decarbonisation and I’m incredibly proud that Climeaction is helping create jobs while tackling emissions at scale,” Mr Murphy said.

Scaling Impact: Expanding into the US Market

Following its success in Ireland, Climeaction is now expanding into the United States, where a it plans to develop another $50 million Climate Transition Fund for large industrial manufacturers in the New England States to deploy similar technology.

Mr Murphy highlighted the urgency of this expansion, particularly as Massachusetts recently cut $500 million in state energy efficiency funding, leaving many businesses struggling to transition to cleaner energy.

“This is exactly why we’re stepping in,” Murphy said. “Businesses shouldn’t have to delay emissions reductions because of technical challenges or policy setbacks. We’re bringing solutions that are plug and play, based on years of our technical expertise in Ireland a hoping to bring a funding model that works—one that enables action today.”

Kilkenny’s Role in Global Climate Leadership

Paul Murphy’s roots in Cuffesgrange and Callan have shaped his journey from Kilkenny to the global stage, where he is now leading one of the most impactful climate action businesses in Ireland. Currently employing 35 people from its Cork and Boston offices, it has seen significant growth since 2021 when it was founded, raising €2.3 million in funding for expansion in December 2023.