Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 November 2023
31. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will report on the need for the Government to carry out an assessment of the existing barriers and potential of development of renewable energy communities under Article 22(3) of the Renewable Energy Directive II. [50144/23]
View answerThe Renewable Energy Directive (RED) is the legal framework for the development of clean energy across all sectors of the EU economy, supporting cooperation between EU countries towards this goal.
Article 22(3) of the recast RED requires Member States to carry out an assessment of the existing barriers and potential of development of Renewable Energy Communities in their territories. In February 2022, I signed the Regulations that transpose Articles 21 and 22 of the recast Renewable Energy Directive, which brings these Articles into force.
The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)'s community enabling framework has been put in place to address some of the key challenges of developing community renewable projects.
My officials are currently focused on bringing a Small-Scale Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (SRESS) into place. The export tariff phase of SRESS, to support small scale and community renewable projects, is due to be launched later this year. This scheme is being designed to align closely to the experience and capacity of the community energy sector and support a sustainable delivery pathway to the renewable energy community target of 500 MW by 2030 .
Bringing the SRESS into place will help to remove existing barriers and assist with the potential of development of renewable energy communities. Once the scheme is in place, my officials will consider any further obligations around the above assessment.
