Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2023
174. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of the community renewable projects that have received connection to the electricity network, and the year in which they received connection, in tabular form. [49184/23]
View answer175. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of RESS I and RESS II community renewable energy projects that were successful in the auctions and that have successfully connected to the grid, in tabular form. [49185/23]
View answer179. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of community renewable energy projects with which he has entered into an implementation agreement for each of the RESS 1 and RESS 2 auctions, in tabular form. [49189/23]
View answer180. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of community renewable energy projects at each milestone of the Implementation Agreement in each of the RESS 1 and RESS 2 auctions, in tabular form. [49190/23]
View answer181. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of renewable energy communities that received connection to the grid in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49198/23]
View answer182. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications a breakdown of the cost to connect to the grid, per renewable energy community, in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49199/23]
View answer183. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the duration between application and connection to the grid, per renewable energy community, in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49200/23]
View answer184. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of renewable energy community projects that were successful in the RESS 1 but that did not secure a grid connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49201/23]
View answer185. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of renewable energy community projects that were successful in the RESS 1 and secured a grid connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49202/23]
View answer186. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications to provide a breakdown of renewable energy community projects that were successful in the RESS 2; how many of those have connected to the grid; how many of those are still waiting on a connection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49203/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 174, 175, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185 and 186 together.
Through the first two RESS auctions, my Department has provided pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects through the application of a community projects category and also through the requirement of a mandatory community benefit fund for all RESS projects.
In total, 7 community projects were successful in the RESS 1 auction, 4 projects remain in progress and are either energised or due to energise this year. All four are solar projects, totalling 16.95 MW in generation. In RESS 2, 8 community projects were successful in the auction, are continuing to progress though the RESS 2 Implementation Agreement milestones and are expected to energise by end of 2025.
Through my Department’s continued engagement with Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), there is evidence of significant challenges that REC projects may face with the competitive, auction based nature of RESS, along with grid and other and other barriers to project delivery.
Support for communities for the development of renewable projects will now transition to the non-competitive Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS). The export tariff phase of SRESS, to support small scale and community renewable projects, is due to be launched later this year. This is expected to offer a simpler route to market for community projects and boost community participation in the Government’s renewable energy ambition.
Responsibility for connection to and charging for access to the electricity network is a matter for the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU). The management of new connections to the electricity grid, including community led energy projects is a matter, at distribution level, for ESB Networks and, at transmission level, for EirGrid, under rules determined by the CRU.
I have asked officials in my Department to forward the queries raised in the questions to the relevant system operator for their attention and direct reply to the Deputies.
