Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 May 2022
69. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the targets that are in place with regard to facilitating households to sell renewably generated electricity back to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23648/22]
View answerThe Government approved the Micro-generation Support Scheme in December last year which provides supports for up to 380MW of micro-generation by 2030, primarily for self-consumption. To facilitate export from micro-generators, on 15 February this year I signed the Regulations (SI 76 of 2022) that transpose Articles 21 and 22 of the recast Renewable Energy Directive which brings these Articles into force. These Regulations create an obligation on suppliers to offer the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff to new and existing micro-and small-scale generators. I am aware that some suppliers have already advertised their CEG tariffs.
Under the Climate Action Plan 2021, Action 105(e), the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) is to complete the implementation of an interim micro-generation system and market change solution which is on target to be completed in Q2 2022. This solution will facilitate households to be remunerated by their supplier for excess renewable electricity they provide to the grid via the CEG tariff.
The CRU published a decision on an interim enabling framework for the CEG which outlines the arrangements for the implementation of the CEG, including eligibility criteria and remuneration methodology. Micro-generators who wish to become eligible should register for an export grid connection from ESB Networks (Micro-Generators (esbnetworks.ie)) and have a smart meter where applicable (Smart Meter Upgrade FAQs (esbnetworks.ie)).
The CRU has decided that suppliers will set their individual CEG tariffs on a competitive market basis but is not setting a date or deadline for the timing of the first payment. Once eligible, customers can expect an initial payment or credit from their suppliers from 1 July depending on billing cycle.
