Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 November 2022
120. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the full scheme design for the microgeneration support scheme will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54878/22]
View answerThe Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by government on 21st December 2021 and sets out the overall framework to support the growth of microgeneration in Ireland. The MSS Final Scheme Design (FSD) will be used by industry to understand the rationale behind the final scheme design parameters and is expected to be published in full shortly. However, the phased introduction of the key MSS supports has already begun. Domestic applicants can apply to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for a grant towards the cost of installing Solar PV equipment. In 2022 and 2023, capital grants are available up to a maximum of €2,400.
Non-domestic applicants including small businesses, farms, schools and community buildings are also now eligible to apply for a grant for installations up to 6kW; at the same grant amounts as domestic customers, of up to €2,400.
Since the introduction of the MSS domestic grant in February 2022, the SEAI have seen application levels rise sharply and are forecasting the numbers for 2022 to be more than double the application levels seen in 2021, under the previous pilot solar PV grant scheme.
The final phase of the MSS involves the introduction of a Clean Export Premium (CEP) feed in tariff, which will offer a guaranteed export tariff support for new non-domestic installations between 6kW and 50kW in size. The tariff will be fixed for 15 years and is expected to be available in 2023, following the completion of an implementation plan by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The CEP will be fixed for 15 years and eligible volumes will be capped at 80% of generation capacity, to encourage self-consumption. The CEP feed-in tariff will be 13.5c/kWh in 2023.
