Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
134. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the new microgeneration scheme will be published; when renewable energy communities will be able to take part and a status update on the Commission on Regulation of Utilities’ involvement in development a scheme for communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14290/22]
View answerThe final design of the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by Government in December 2021 and will be published shortly. Community enterprises including sports clubs and community halls will be eligible to participate, either as individual micro-generators or as community projects within the MSS. At present, community enterprises with existing renewable micro-generation are eligible to receive the Clean Export Guarantee tariff for all residual electricity exported to the grid. They can contact their supplier to obtain information on the Clean Export Guarantee. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is due to extend the domestic solar PV grant scheme to the non-domestic sector, including community enterprises, in July of this year. A Capital grant for new renewable micro-generation up to 6.0kW in size (maximum grant €2,400) will be available. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is currently working on the regulatory framework to facilitate renewable energy communities following a recent public consultation. The CRU has published a summary note alongside the main Conclusions Paper which specifically contains the conclusions and next steps the CRU is planning to take to implement the enabling regulatory framework for energy communities and active consumers. The CRU is also due to consult on an implementation plan for the Clean Export Premium (CEP) tariff in Q3 of this year. The CEP tariff will be Eur13.5c/kWh in 2022 and 2023 for new renewable micro-generation from non-domestic applicants between 6.1kW and 50kW in size, fixed for 15 years.
