Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 May 2023
9. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total amount of solar PV capacity that there was by the end of 2022; and the amount of new solar PV capacity that is expected to be installed by the end of 2023 and 2024 respectively, in tabular form. [26413/23]
View answer10. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the total amount of solar PV capacity that is expected to be installed by the end of 2023, 2024 and 2025 respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26414/23]
View answer13. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a breakdown of capital and current funding allocated to the solar PV scheme in each of the years 2021 to 2022 and to date in 2023 respectively, in tabular form. [26417/23]
View answer14. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide a breakdown of capital and current funding expended under the solar pv scheme in each of the years 2021 to 2022 and to date in 2023 respectively, in tabular form. [26418/23]
View answer15. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the average value of grants awarded under the solar pv scheme in each of the years 2021 to 2022 and to date in 2023 respectively, in tabular form. [26419/23]
View answer16. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the amount of solar PV capacity that has been supported by grants provided under the solar PV scheme in each of the years 2021 to 2022 and to date in 2023, respectively, in tabular form. [26420/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 10, 13, 14, 15 and 16 together.
I propose to take the above PQs together as the requested data is interrelated. The data provided below relates exclusively to the Domestic Solar PV scheme.
The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by Government on 21 December 2021, to support Ireland’s ambitious targets for micro-generation installations, under the Climate Action Plan 21. The MSS provides supports to both domestic and non-domestic applicants, in the form of grants for Solar PV installations, which are available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), up to a maximum of €2,400.
In 2022 the SEAI received 16,819 applications to the Domestic Solar PV programme, which resulted in grant support for 10,017 homes, at a cost of €24.4m and a total installed capacity of 46.5 MW. This indicates an average installation size of 4.6kW. This is a huge increase on the numbers from 2021 when 4,077 homes were supported, and 16.3 MW installed. The SEAI maintains data regarding the financing and functioning of this scheme and has facilitated the information in response to your questions below.
The installed capacity of Solar PV is as follows
|
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
46.5MW |
55.6MW |
TBC |
TBC |
The 2023 figure is based on the current 2023 budget of €29.4m. However, with continued very strong levels of demand seen since the start of this year, in conjunction with Government's decision to reduce the rate of VAT on the supply and installation of solar panels to 0%; it is expected that application levels will exceed the current projections for 2023. The 2024 and 2025 figures remain to be confirmed as the MSS is currently undergoing a planned review, in order to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness of the scheme.
Allocations of capital and current funding to SEAI in respect of the Domestic Solar PV scheme, are as follows:
|
- |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Capital |
€ 11,000,000 |
€ 25,200,000 |
€ 28,770,000 |
|
Current |
€500,000 |
€680,000 |
€630,000 |
Capital and current expenditure in those same years is below;
|
- |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 to date |
|
Capital |
€9,757,211 |
€ 24,962,000 |
€ 12,878,318 |
|
Current |
€479,116 |
€682,134 |
60,606 |
The average grants awarded during this period are;
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
€2,307 |
€2,439 |
€2,337 |
The amount of solar PV capacity that has been supported by grants provided under the Solar PV scheme is below;
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
16.3MW |
46.5MW |
26.9MW |
Up to the end of April this year the SEAI have had 6,429 applications for the Domestic solar PV scheme and have already supported 5,443 homes with 26.86 MW installed.
