Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2021
178. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the SEAI will continue to provide grants for the installation of solar PV panels in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48783/21]
View answerThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers a range of supports to assist in the installation of solar PV panels and will continue to do so in 2022. Supports for domestic solar PV are currently available under the standalone solar PV grant scheme and as one of a range of measures supported under the National Home Retrofit Scheme for complete home energy upgrades. Solar PV is also funded under the Communities Energy Grant Scheme, which makes grant funding available to improve the energy efficiency of the building stock, and is open to domestic and non-domestic applications.
The overall allocations for residential and community retrofitting in 2022 will be finalised as part of the annual Estimates process. Once finalised, my Department and the SEAI will determine the Programme allocations, and how they will align with the upcoming Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff and any future supports under the planned Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS).
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a draft consultation framework on 1 October which outlines the details for the introduction of the CEG payment for exported renewable electricity by eligible micro- and small-scale generators, including solar PV. This draft framework includes eligibility criteria and timescales for introduction, and will introduce an obligation on electricity suppliers to offer remuneration to their customers for excess renewable electricity exported to the grid reflective of the market value of that electricity. I understand that the CRU consultation will last four weeks, with a decision expected to be published in November and a compensation regime expected to follow shortly afterwards.
My Department is also advancing a final scheme design for the MSS, and it is envisaged that a proposal, which may include grants or premium tariff payments for new installations, will be submitted to Government later this year.
