Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021
265. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the work of the micro-generation working group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50483/21]
View answer266. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the public consultation on a micro-generation support scheme in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50484/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together.
A Micro-Generation working group, chaired by my Department, is developing an enabling framework for micro-generation which tackles existing barriers and establishes suitable supports within relevant market segments.
Within the Working Group, there has been extensive engagement between my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage on a proposed revision to the exemptions for solar installations under the Planning Regulations. The proposed revisions could reduce the barriers to micro and small-scale rooftop solar PV and open up exemptions to new building types including educational, community and apartment buildings. A Strategic Environmental Assessment of the proposed revisions is underway, after which it is expected that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will bring revised Regulations to the relevant Oireachtas Committee early next year.
My Department outlined proposals for a new Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) in a public consultation that closed in February. A summary report of the submissions has been published on my Department's website.
A key proposal of the consultation concerned the introduction of a Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff, to provide remuneration that reflects the market rate for renewable electricity exported to the grid by renewables self-consumers.The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) published a consultation on a draft enabling framework on 1 October which outlines the details for the introduction of the CEG payment. 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.
I also understand that ESB Networks will also begin a trial in the coming months of an updated and simplified grid connection process for micro-generators in the 12-50kW range.
In the meantime, my Department is developing a final scheme design for the MSS that incorporates the feedback from the public consultation and subsequent additional analysis. A proposal will be submitted to Government later this year.
