Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 September 2021
148. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the design of the new energy efficiency obligation scheme which will operate from 2022 to 2030; the envisaged targets for the scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44313/21]
View answerIreland has used an Energy Efficiency Obligation Scheme (EEOS) to help deliver on its binding energy savings obligation under Article 7 of the Energy Efficiency Directive since 2014. The 2014-2020 EEOS successfully resulted in final energy savings of over 3,800 GWh, supporting over 290,000 dwellings and 3,000 businesses. Following a consultation in 2019, it was decided that for 2021-30, Ireland would again use an EEOS to achieve a portion of the energy savings required under Article 7. For this period, the Government is redesigning the EEOS to more closely align with Ireland’s broader climate ambitions and targets. Since then, work has been progressing on the redesign of the EEOS to commence in 2022. As part of this, a second consultation in March/April 2021, set out detailed scheme design proposals, with stakeholders asked to provide input on consultation questions across the broad policy areas. Iit was proposed that the new EEOS target would be set at 36,424 GWh cumulative final energy savings (60% of Ireland’s Article 7 obligation), with at least 15% of this to be delivered in the residential sector, including energy poor homes. This target equates to new final energy savings of over 6,600 GWh.Consultation responses were received from a range of stakeholders and have been considered as part of the development process.
I intend to publish my decision on the new EEOS shortly, which will allow for its implementation from January 2022.
