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Renewable Energy Generation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021

Tuesday, 19 October 2021

Questions (293, 301, 302)

David Stanton

Question:

293. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount expended on the solar electricity grant in each year since its inception; the number of installations completed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51288/21]

View answer

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

301. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of homes that will receive financial assistance under the solar PV grant programme in 2022; the estimated average grant; the estimated impact this will have on electricity demand and carbon emissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51296/21]

View answer

Darren O'Rourke

Question:

302. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of households that have received a grant to date under the solar PV scheme in each year; the impact this had on carbon emissions to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51297/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 293, 301 and 302 together.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administers the grant scheme to help homeowners to install solar PV panels on their home. The scheme was launched in July 2018. The table below outlines the scheme statistics for each year. Figures for 2021 are as at 30 September 2021.

Year

No. of homes

Value of support (€)

MW installed

Co2 saved (tonnes)

2018

71

125,350

0.2

53

2019

1,820

4,266,405

6.1

1,609

2020

2,916

7,353,320

10.8

2,838

2021 (ytd)

2,328

5,333,218

9.1

2,390

 

26.2 MW installed under the scheme to date equates to an annual output of 20,960 MWhs, which equates to supporting 64.6% of the annual demand for these homes.

€10 million is allocated for the scheme in 2022, an increase on the €8 million allocation for 2021. The number of grants which could be achieved in 2022 with this level of funding, as well as the average value of grants and the impact of the scheme in terms of MW installed and emissions avoided, is dependent on factors such as installation size, the rate of battery installations etc., which vary between applications.

Grant supports for domestic solar PV in 2022 will align with the upcoming Clean Export Guarantee tariff and other supports to be offered under the planned Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS). My Department is developing a final scheme design for the MSS, and it is expected that a proposal on the supports to be offered will be submitted to Government later this year.

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