Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
973. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of progress and a projected timeline for implementation of action No. 31 of the Climate Action Plan in relation to the need for a support scheme for the solar PV microgeneration scheme to ensure that persons can sell excess electricity they produce back to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4203/20]
View answerThe Climate Action Plan sets out how Ireland will achieve its 2030 targets for carbon emissions, and puts us on a trajectory which would be consistent with net zero carbon emissions by 2050. A key part of the Plan is a move to 70% renewable electricity by 2030.
Under Action 31 of the Climate Action Plan the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), on behalf of my Department, commenced a pilot solar photovoltaic (PV) scheme in July 2018, providing grant supports for homes built before 2011. To date, over 2,300 installations have received grant support.
Under Action 30 of the Climate Action Plan, a Micro-Generation working group, chaired by my Department, has been formed to develop an enabling framework for micro-generation which tackles existing barriers and establishes suitable supports within relevant market segments. A work programme is underway to address the main steps necessary to facilitate the feeding of excess electricity generation into the national grid.
The proposed suppot mechanisms will be outlined in a public consultation in 2020 and a suitable support payment for excess electricity generated on site and exported to the grid will be available to all micro-generators by 2021.
