Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 November 2023
32. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to report on the three grid studies to support communities to identify sites in their locality that are most likely to have an economically viable grid connection; how his Department will implement their findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50146/23]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)'s community enabling framework seeks to address some of the key challenges of developing community renewable projects. One of these challenges relates to connections to the electricity grid. SEAI has undertaken five grid studies on a county basis to support communities in identifying sites within their locality that are most likely to have an economically viable grid connection. One more is planned.
The initial focus of these grid studies has been on the counties that are most likely to have available grid capacity for smaller generation projects. The five that have been completed so far are in Kildare, Kerry and Galway, Limerick and East Cork and associated community information events highlighting the results were held. One more is planned before the end of the year, in Laois, where an information event is also planned.
It is expected that the results of these studies will assist the SEAI, my Department and community groups, that have ambitions of developing their own grid scale projects, to better understand which locations are more likely to be feasible for renewable community energy project development.
Grid connection is a major challenge for communities, which is something that the Commission for Regulation of Utilities is examining as part of a review of its electricity generation connection policy.
