Written Answers Nos. 107-121
108. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way a domestic electricity user with solar panels will receive compensation for the excess electricity generated that is returned to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1354/23]
View answer135. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the microgeneration scheme. [2422/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 135 together.
The phased introduction of the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) began with the commencement of the MSS domestic solar PV grant on 16 February, 2022, with grant levels up to a maximum of €2,400 available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). The second phase of the scheme, announced on 22nd September,2022, saw Solar PV grants extended to the non-domestic sector, for installations up to and including 6 kW. Grants are administered by SEAI and are up to a maximum of €2,400.
New installations greater than 6kW up to 50kW will be eligible for a Clean Export Premium (CEP) tariff per kWh exported. It is expected that the CEP will be implemented further to a public consultation process to be undertaken by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) in 2023.
The underlying principle, and primary advantage of microgeneration is self-consumption of electricity. This is predominantly how microgeneration can help consumers shield against electricity costs. While there is potential for payment for any excess electricity, export is an additional benefit but not the primary driver for engaging in microgeneration.
On the 15 February 2022 I signed the Regulations that create an obligation on suppliers to offer the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff to new and existing micro-and small-scale generators so that they will receive payment for excess renewable electricity they export to the grid, reflective of the market value.
The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (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. More information is available here: Clean Export Guarantee - Commission for Regulation of Utilities (cru.ie)
I am aware that suppliers have published a range of CEG tariffs from €13.5c/kWh up to €21c/kWh which allows customers to shop around and switch suppliers to obtain the best rates for selling and purchasing electricity.
The CRU expects all suppliers to put in place measures to make CEG payments to customers at the earliest opportunity and to communicate this to their customers. Micro-generators will not lose out while payment systems are put in place as payments to customers will be backdated to when they either became eligible or to the 15th February 2022. The CRU advises customers to contact their supplier to obtain information on their suppliers' CEG tariff arrangements as many have already paid customers for their export generation.
110. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the enforcement of the prohibition of the sale of turf; if he has engaged with local authorities on this issue, specifically the local authorities in Offaly and Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1410/23]
View answerThe new regulations on the sale of solid fuels for domestic heating in Ireland came into operation on 31 October 2022. They introduce minimum standards that apply across all solid fuels, to ensure that the most polluting can no longer be made available on the Irish market and to assist the public in transitioning to less polluting alternatives.
My Department has engaged extensively and continues to engage with all Local Authorities with regard to enforcement of the new regulations, developing guidance and training, and supporting the sharing of best practice in relation to a range of legislative obligations that are under the remit of the Local Authorities. A workshop for Local Authorities was held during October, in advance of the regulations taking effect, and a further workshop is scheduled for early March. In addition, a detailed guidance document on enforcement of the new regulations has been developed and circulated to all Local Authorities.
My Department and the Local Government Management Agency are continuing to work together to establish an enhanced enforcement support structure to support the provision of improved co-ordination, expertise, and advice to support consistent implementation of air quality legislation across the country.
I have also made grant funding available to support Local Authorities through a solid fuels enforcement pilot scheme to support innovation and enhanced enforcement of the new solid fuel regulations. We will continue to work with the sector in the coming months to provide further co-ordination and support as appropriate.
111. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the specific delegated functions that have been transferred to Ministers of State appointed in December 2022, in tabular form; and the date of transfer. [1468/23]
View answerMinister of State Jack Chambers has responsibility for the Eircode and Postal functions of my Department with effect from 17 December 2022. The role of Minister of State Chambers in these areas relates to non-statutory functions which are assigned on an administrative basis.
The Statutory Instrument delegating functions to Minister of State Ossian Smyth will be finalised shortly. Once finalised, details of the functions delegated to Minister of State Smyth will be published on my Department's website.
112. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the name of the company, organisation or persons contracted to provide media training to him from 1 January 2021 to date; the costs incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1505/23]
View answerMedia training has not been procured during the period 1 January 2021 to date, therefore no costs have been incurred.
113. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the engagement he has had with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the decision to issue a ministerial order to overturn the policy on data centres within the South Dublin County Council development plan, particularly in respect of the role of local authorities and local communities in climate action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1641/23]
View answerI have no role in the issuing of Ministerial Directions under the Planning and Development Act, 2000 (as amended), which are a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
As a part of Project Ireland 2040, the National Planning Framework includes the promotion of Ireland as a sustainable international destination for ICT infrastructures such as data centres and associated economic activities. This is reflected in the “Government Statement on the Role of Data Centres in Ireland’s Enterprise Strategy” which was published in July of 2022. The statement addresses sustainable data centre development to align with Ireland’s renewable energy targets, security of supply, sectoral emissions, and climate priorities. The goal of this policy is to ensure the positive benefits for sustainability are maximised and that digital technologies are used in a sustainable manner to ensure the energy and circular economy challenges from digitalisation are aligned with our climate objectives. Local Development plans should be consistent with National Policy in this regard.
The recently published Climate Action Plan 2023 sets out a plan implementing the carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings along with a roadmap for taking decisive action to halve our emissions by 2030 and reach net zero no later than 2050, as was committed to in the Programme for Government. Included in that plan is the need to ensure electricity demand is managed in line with our climate objectives. Flexible and decarbonised demand from large energy users is critical for security of supply and ensuring consistency with the binding carbon budgets. Gas and electricity connection policies remain under regular review by the Regulator with a particular focus on new Large Energy Users.
114. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the plans his Department has to support community or co-operative anaerobic digester plants. [1647/23]
View answerAnaerobic Digestion produces biogas which can be captured and used for renewable heat and electricity generation.
My Department has developed a number of schemes to support production of renewable electricity in Ireland which are open to community participation. These schemes include the grid scale, auction based Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) - of which the third onshore auction is to be held in 2023, and the Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS), for smaller installations, up to 50 kW in size (30kWe for micro-renewable Combined Heat and Power).
The RESS and MSS schemes both include Anaerobic Digestion (AD) for electricity generation with High Efficiency Combined Heat and Power as an eligible technology. Under the RESS, there are a range of measures in place to support increased community ownership, participation in, and benefit from, renewable electricity projects, including an Enabling Framework for Community Participation. However, no AD projects have come through the RESS auctions to date.
Anaerobic digestion for renewable heat is supported through the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH). The SSRH is a Government funded initiative designed to increase the energy generated from renewable sources in the heat sector, whilst also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The scheme is open to commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating, public sector and other non-domestic heat users and is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
The SSRH provides an operational support for biomass boilers and anaerobic digestion heating systems and an installation grant for renewable heating systems using heat pumps
In line with the agreed Sectoral Emissions Ceilings and the Climate Action Plan commitment to deliver up to 5.7 TWh of biomethane to further accelerate the reduction of overall economy-wide emissions, an obligation on the heat sector to include renewable heat will be introduced by 2024. The introduction of this Obligation will incentivise the use of renewable heat, while spreading the obligation across all non-renewable fuel types.
115. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that the SEAI has removed marine vessels' energy costs from the qualifying criteria for the support scheme for energy audits for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1650/23]
View answer116. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason that the SEAI has removed transport energy costs from the qualifying criteria for the support scheme for energy audits for 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1651/23]
View answer117. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the €400,000 of unspent support scheme for energy audits funding in 2022 will carry forward to 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1652/23]
View answer118. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the reduction of the voucher limit under support scheme for energy audits in 2023, will potentially result in a lower quality audit and lower quality data being collected by the SEAI given that many SMEs and farmers have multiple electricity connections at multiple sites which will now be excluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1653/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 115 to 118, inclusive, together.
My Department funds the Support Scheme for Energy Audits (SSEA) which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). As a result of rising energy costs, many more businesses are now eligible for the scheme as many more are spending in excess of €10,000 per annum on heating and electricity costs. The budget for the scheme in 2022 was €600,000 but, due to significant demand, additional funding was made available and €1.75m was paid in 2022. While the budget for 2023 has increased to €2m, it should be noted that almost 700 vouchers issued in 2022 have yet to be redeemed for payment and it is expected that a significant portion of these vouchers will be submitted for payment in 2023.
A recent review of the operation of the scheme resulted in a number of changes being made to ensure that the scheme operates within its overall budget for 2023, while also ensuring maximum value from the audits for the businesses involved. The SEAI engaged with Registered Energy Auditors on these changes.
One such change was capping the maximum number of vouchers to one per applicant/business in order to maximise the availability of the scheme to assist as many businesses as possible. The energy audit carried out should, where possible, include all electricity consumed by a business or at a site and businesses with multiple electricity connections or sites are not excluded from applying for a voucher. The scheme allows for a company to request that an auditor audits more than one building within the value of the voucher, or for a small additional fee to be agreed between the company and their Auditor.
The SEAI’s energy audit data indicates that measures to reduce transport costs are typically limited to either improving driver behaviour or switching to electric vehicles. As a result, transport costs have been excluded from the scheme qualifying criteria although, for businesses that are eligible for the scheme, recommendations to reduce transport energy use could still be included in their energy audit. Businesses that have significant transport energy costs can avail of information on EVs and eco driver training on SEAI’s website.
Based on SEAI analysis marine vessel energy audit data is limited and, therefore, does not provide value to the business and the removal of marine vessels from the scheme is a recognition of this.
119. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a response will issue to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to concerns with the ESB public electrical vehicle charging points rate increases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1666/23]
View answerI have no function in the pricing of electricity, which falls within the remit of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) as Ireland's independent energy and water regulator. The CRU was established following the enactment of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and is accountable to the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister nor my Department.
Having an effective and reliable recharging network is essential to enabling drivers to choose electric. Home charging is the primary charging method for most Irish EV owners as it’s convenient and cheaper for the consumer and can assist in the overall management of the national grid. Over 80% of charging is expected to happen at home.
The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years. The National Charging Infrastructure Strategy for the development of EV charging infrastructure, covering the period out to 2025 was published for consultation in March 2022.
The draft strategy sets out the government’s ambition regarding the delivery of a public EV charging network to support up to 195,000 electric cars and vans by the middle of the decade. Responses and submissions received as part of the consultation are currently being considered in the development of the final Strategy, due for publication shortly.
Furthermore, on 21 July last I launched a new dedicated Office, Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, which will oversee and accelerate Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles. I announced that a new residential charging grant is in development which will focus on providing neighbourhood and residential charging solutions, particularly in areas where off-street charging is either limited or not possible. Further information on Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland and updates on the residential charging grant is available at www.gov.ie/zevi.
120. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the way he will ensure his ongoing energy security review integrates and respects sectoral emissions ceiling and carbon budget obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1672/23]
View answerA review of the energy security of Ireland’s gas and electricity systems is being carried out by my Department and Cambridge Economic Policy Associates were engaged to conduct technical analysis to support this review process. The review is focused on the period to 2030, but in the context of ensuring a sustainable transition to 2050.
The Government approved Sectoral Emission Ceilings in July 2022 for the first two carbon budget periods (i.e., 2021-2025 and 2026-2030). The agreed sectoral emission ceilings provide for sector-specific carbon budget allocations for these two periods. The pathway towards our 2030 and 2050 emissions reduction targets, as set out in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021, must incorporate the required level of abatement to comply with the carbon budget periods and emission reduction targets set out in the corresponding sectoral emission ceiling.
My Department has received over 450 responses to the consultation which are being examined and carefully considered. I will bring a set of recommendations to Government once the review is complete. My recommendations will be cognisant of the need for energy security, affordability and sustainability, including our sectoral emissions ceilings and carbon budget obligations.
121. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will ensure gas demand reduction measures are prioritised in the energy security review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1674/23]
View answerThe review of the security of energy supply of Ireland’s electricity and natural gas systems is focused on the period to 2030, but in the context of ensuring a sustainable transition to 2050. The review is considering risks to both natural gas and electricity supplies, and the range of measures required to address these risks. This includes the need for additional capacity of indigenous renewable energy and also the need to import energy, energy storage, fuel diversification and renewable gases, such as hydrogen.
The review set out a range of options for consideration and demand side response is part of those options. For example, the Gas Mitigation Package includes gas storage, renewable gas, green hydrogen and demand side response, and similarly, the Electricity Mitigation Package includes demand side management and batteries. The consultation document has also highlighted that the most secure energy is the energy that we do not use and therefore, energy efficiency should always form part of our response to energy security.
Once the review of the security of supply of Ireland’s electricity and gas systems has been completed, I will bring a set of recommendations to Government for consideration.
