Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2015
585. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the Government's policy regarding micro turbines; the provisions that are being made to connect the output of these micro turbines to the national grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17884/15]
View answerThe Renewable Electricity Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) schemes are the principal means of supporting renewable electricity generators for renewable energy exported to the grid. These schemes support electricity generated from a range of renewable sources, including small scale hydro, biomass and wind. Based around Power Purchase Agreements between generators and electricity suppliers, REFIT schemes assure a minimum price for each unit of electricity exported to the grid over a 15 year period. Small scale renewable generation is eligible to apply for support under the REFIT schemes.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) provides a range of supports to business and homeowners in relation to the deployment of renewable energy technologies.
In the context of the forthcoming energy policy paper, my Department is considering matters relating to Ireland's fuel mix, including the role of microgeneration. Analysis of the potential of microgeneration technologies such as small scale wind, solar (including photovoltaic) and small scale hydro, has been carried out by the SEAI. The SEAI's findings, along with responses to the recent consultation on the Green Paper on Energy Policy in Ireland, will inform future policy on the provision of any market support for microgeneration. The views will be taken into consideration in preparation of the White Paper on Energy which will be finalised in September this year.
Given the emerging policy context and the requirements of the EU target market for electricity, my Department is also beginning the process of developing a new support scheme for electricity, to be available from 2016 onwards. A key component of this will be consideration of the available technologies, their cost effectiveness and the level of support required. The scheme will be subject to State Aid clearance and the initial public consultation on the new scheme will commence shortly.
As regards the physical connection of a microgenerator to the electricity network, interested parties should contact ESB Networks. Details are available at:
http://www.esb.ie/esbnetworks/en/generator-connections/micro_gen_connections.jsp.
